A motorised mobility device (MMD) is primarily intended as assistive technology for people with limited mobility. MMDs include powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters. In recent years concerns have been raised about the number of fatal and serious incidents with these devices in Australia. These incidents are not reliably recorded in crash reporting systems but special studies indicated that several hundred Australians are hospitalised each year due to incidents involving MMDs. A review using the safe-systems approach resulted in recommended minimum safety requirements for the design of MMDs intended to be used on footpaths/sidewalks and other public infrastructure. In 2018 Standards Australia published a new Technical Specification settings out these requirements. This paper provides background on the development of these requirements.