Continued Learning: for Consumers and Professionals
Transportation Safety for Wheelchair Occupants - Part 1
This is the first part of a 90 slide lecture.Go ahead to Part 2 (the middle 30 slides)
Go ahead to Part 3 (the last 30 slides)
A slide lecture created by: Linda vanRoosmalen, PhD & DongRan Ha, PhD
Wheelchair Transportation Safety
Slide text:
- 1.6 million wheelchair users
- Access to motor-vehicle transportation is the key to functioning in society
- ADA prohibits discrimination in public transportation services
- 2001 New Freedom initiative calls for integration of disabled persons into workforce and community - “transportation” critical factor in meeting this priority
- 82% of wheelchair users indicate difficulty with using public transportation
- Wheelchair users have 10% higher unemployment rate
Impact Direction
Slide text:
Direction of Impact
- Front = Cars/Vans 48.3% and School Buses 55.9%
- Side=Cars/Vans 28.5% and School Buses 14.7%
- Rear=Cars/Vans 3.3% and School Buses 0%
- Other=Cars/Vans 19.9% and School Buses 29.4%
Graphic description:
The table shows that frontal impact has the highest accident rate when compared to side and rear vehicle impact.
Impact Severity
Slide text:
- Injury Risk:
- Proportional to velocity change (=acceleration)
- Occupant Restraints protect the occupant by:
- Increasing the time over which the velocity changes
- Therefore reducing the acceleration loads
Safety Guidelines
Slide text:
- Secure the wheelchair
- Restrain the occupant
- Remove loose accessories from wheelchair
- Remove parts that can injure occupant during an impact. Lap trays, loose objects, postural supports, communication devices, neck rings
Wheelchair Securement Systems
Slide text:
- Four point strap type tie-downs
- Docking systems
- Other: wheel clamps, hybrids
- Rearward facing compartments (in large buses)
Strap type tie-down system
Slide text:
- Advantages
- Four securement points (improves crash response and stability)
- Adaptable to most wheelchair types
- No additional wheelchair hardware require
- Withstands crash forces
Graphic description:
Picture of a wheelchair that is tied down to the vehicle floor with 4 belts. 2 belts on the left and right front of the wheelchair and two belts on the left and right rear of the wheelchair. Aluminum tracks can be used to anchor the belts to the vehicle floor.
Strap type tie-down system
Slide text:
- Disadvantages
- Invasion of personal space
- Lengthy securement times
- Requires operator/attendant for securement
- Tiedowns easily misplaced or soiled
- Lack of defined wheelchair securement points
- Requires operator training when securing a variety of wheelchairs
Docking Systems
Graphic description:
Picture of an EZ Lock system, that can automatically secure a wheelchair to the vehicle floor. For this to work, the wheelchair needs to be equipped with a bolt underneath the wheelchair. This bolt is caught by the docking system when the wheelchair rides over it.
Docking System
Slide text:
- Advantages
- Quick securement times
- Independent securement
- Eliminates need for human judgment of securement point location
- Minimizes error
- Withstands crash forces
Graphic description:
Pictures show the EZ-Lock docking system and a wheelchair that is equipped with a interface that fits in a docking type securement system.
Docking System
Slide text:
- Advantages
- Require additional wheelchair hardware
- Difficulty in adapting add-on hardware to all wheelchair types
- Add on hardware adds weight
- Add-on hardware may affect ground clearance and/or overall wheelchair length
- Fewer securement points (less stability and control of crash response)
Wheel Clamps
Graphic description:
Pictures show the side ways installed wheel clamp system, which is not recommended, because the wheel can come detached from the wheelchair during impact and the occupant is sideways facing, which is a non safe position during frontal impact.
Wheel Clamps
Slide text:
- Advantage
- Fairly quick securement
- Less invasive
- Disadvantages
- Unable to safely withstand crash forces
- Not compatible with all wheel types
- Requires attendant for securement