RERC_WTS: How Safe is your Wheelchair

What does a "transport safe" label mean?
What are wheelchair transportation safety standards?
Seating Systems and Mounted Equipment
How important is a wheelchair tiedown system?
Do I also need a wheelchair occupant restraint system?
Belt Fit
Summary Recommendations

How safe is your wheelchair?

As more and more wheelchair users become independent and have active work, school, and social lives, they are beginning to have a larger and larger presence in our communities and on the roadways. This is obviously a positive trend, both because it is indicative of their rising social and economic status and because their visibility acts to break down attitudinal barriers and stereotypes. But some transportation safety concerns do arise for wheelchair users who lead an on-the-go lifestyle. This article will attempt to shed some light on the complicated and often technical topic of wheelchair transportation safety.

If you are a wheelchair user, and you remain in your wheelchair while riding in moving vehicles, ask yourself the following questions:

Does your wheelchair have the “transport safe” label on it?
How familiar are you with the types of standards a wheelchair must live up to in order to be labeled transport safe?
Is your seating system the one that came with the wheelchair, or did you obtain a different seating system because of specific positioning needs?
Do you have equipment mounted on your wheelchair such as a lap tray or augmentative communication device?
Do you always tie your wheelchair down to the floor of the vehicle you are riding in?
Do you always wear at least a lap restraint and preferably a shoulder restraint when you travel in vehicles?
How well do the shoulder and lap belts generally fit you?

What does a "transport safe" label mean?

If your wheelchair has the “transport safe” label on it - great!

The "transport safe" label means that the manufacturer has put the wheelchair through rigorous crash tests, and the chair has safely survived those tests with little or no structural damage. Wheelchairs that have passed these tests have proven their ability to withstand a 30MPH collision.

Wheelchairs that do not have the “transport safe” label have not been tested as to their safety for use as seats in moving vehicles. If a user of a non-transport safe wheelchair is involved in a collision, his/her wheelchair may be pulled apart by the crash forces, causing an extremely dangerous situation for the user and for other people in the vehicle. Therefore, if your wheelchair is not labeled transport safe, you should avoid using it while traveling in a moving vehicle if possible.

What are wheelchair transportation safety standards?

Several national and international working groups have developed standards for transit wheelchairs and wheelchair occupant restraint systems (seatbelts for wheelchair users). The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, (RESNA), and the American National Standards Institute, (ANSI), have collaborated to design specific required tests that a wheelchair must pass in order to be labeled transport safe.

According to the ANSI/RESNA standards, a wheelchair must be able to withstand a 30MPH collision at 20G with little or no structural damage.
Wheelchairs that meet the ANCI/RESNA standards must also have at least four securement points to which a tiedown strap can be safely attached.
The Society of Automotive Engineers, (SAE), has developed test requirements for wheelchair tiedown systems and wheelchair occupant restraint systems. These standards dictate the manner in which tiedowns and occupant restraint systems should be designed and how strong their materials need to be in order to minimize the wheelchair user’s risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The International Standards Organization, (ISO), has developed similar standards to those that ANSI/RESNA has designed, but the ISO standards apply internationally.
More information on these standards can be found at: http://www.rercwts.pitt.edu

While these standards represent great strides in the improvement of wheelchair transportation safety, they are only voluntary. Manufacturers are not required to produce wheelchairs that meet the standards. It is crucial that consumers choose wheelchairs carefully if they plan to use them as seats in motor vehicles.

Seating Systems and Mounted Equipment

Choosing a transport safe wheelchair will greatly decrease a wheelchair user’s risk of injury in the event of a crash. However, it is important to bear in mind that replacing or tinkering with any component of a transport safe wheelchair may invalidate the chair’s transport safe status.

For example:

If you elect not to use the seating system that came with the wheelchair, as many wheelchair users do, your new seating system may not have been tested for transport safety. This is especially true for custom-designed seating systems. Even if the wheelchair frame is strong enough to withstand crash forces, the seat or back of the chair may bend, come apart, or become detached from the frame, increasing the user’s risk of injury.
The same thing can happen with devices mounted on wheelchairs, such as augmentative communication (AAC) devices and lap trays.

Wheelchair users who have custom or aftermarket seating systems or who use devices mounted on their wheelchairs need to carefully consider the safety of using such devices during transit. Research is currently under way at the University of Pittsburgh’s Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center to develop safer seating systems and attachment hardware for transit wheelchairs.

How important is a wheelchair tiedown system?

All public buses and paratransit vehicles are required to be equipped with safe locations for wheelchair users to tiedown the wheelchair to the floor of the vehicle. Private cars equipped for wheelchair users should also have these tiedown points. But, securing a wheelchair is time-consuming.

Wheelchair users who ride the bus may encounter pressure from the driver or other passengers to forego tying the chair down to the floor of the bus in the interest of time savings. However, failing to secure the wheelchair is a very dangerous practice. A wheelchair that is not anchored to the floor can become a lethal flying object in the event of a crash. Even in normal conditions, when buses lurch to a sudden halt or encounter bumpy roads, the chair can slide out of place and cause injury to the user or other passengers. It is therefore crucial that wheelchair users insist that their chairs be properly secured before the bus moves.

Do I also need a wheelchair occupant restraint system?

Wheelchair occupant restraint systems are just as important as tiedown systems. Often, people who sit in their wheelchairs while riding in vehicles lack the strength and mobility to easily transfer out of their chairs into a standard vehicle seat. This means that in a crash situation, such people may similarly be unable to grab and hold onto safety bars or other safety equipment in the vehicle. Therefore, in the event of a crash or even just a sudden stop, the occupant restraint system may be the only thing preventing the user from lurching out of the wheelchair.

Caution!: the occupant restraint belt is NOT the same as or equivalent to a user’s positioning belt.

Positioning belts are only intended to help provide postural support. The material that they are made of is not strong enough to prevent or reduce injury in the event of a crash. The wheelchair occupant restraint system is crucial for wheelchair transportation safety, even for those who use positioning belts.

As with tiedown systems, occupant restraint systems are often time-consuming to secure, and the wheelchair user will often require assistance to put on the restraint. Some para-transit and bus drivers either do not know how to operate the restraint or are unwilling to take the time to fasten it. All public buses and paratransit vehicles, as well as private cars outfitted for wheelchairs, are equipped with vehicle-mounted lap and shoulder restraints. Wheelchair users should insist on the use of these occupant restraint systems, even if they feel pressured not to by the driver or other passengers.

Belt Fit

Conventional, vehicle-mounted occupant restraint systems do not always fit every body, shape and size and every wheelchair design. If you are larger or smaller than average, or have a very tall or very short wheelchair, chances are good that conventional vehicle-mounted occupant restraint belts will not fit you very well. Restraint belts that fit poorly are not nearly as effective at preventing injury as those that fit well. They can also block the user’s access to augmentative communication devices or other equipment that is mounted on the wheelchair.

Research is currently being conducted at the University of Pittsburgh’s Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center to develop and design occupant restraint systems that are anchored to the wheelchair, instead of to the vehicle. The so-called wheelchair integrated restraints can be custom-fitted to each user, so they are often safer than ill-fitting vehicle-mounted restraints. Integrated restraint systems have the added advantage of often being easier for the user to fasten independently. Hopefully in the next few years, wheelchair manufacturers will begin building these restraints into their transport safe wheelchairs.

Summary Recommendations

If you sit in your wheelchair while riding in vehicles, be sure the wheelchair is labeled "transport safe."
If your current wheelchair is not transport safe but you must use it while riding in vehicles, take as many safety precautions as possible, such as:
1. tying your wheelchair down
2. wearing a vehicle-mounted occupant restraint
3. sitting facing toward the front of the vehicle.
Become familiar with the various wheelchair transportation safety standards.
Take into consideration the risk factors involved in using a custom-built or after-market seating system.
Be sure that any equipment mounted to your wheelchair is bolted securely, and realize that this equipment may be dangerous to you or others in the event of a crash.
Always insist that your wheelchair be securely tied down to the floor of the vehicle you are riding in.
Take the extra time and buckle up, even if that means explaining to the vehicle’s driver how to fasten the restraint system correctly.
If vehicle-mounted occupant restraints do not generally fit you very well, remember that wearing them is still safer than not wearing them.
Stay informed about the progress of wheelchair transportation safety research so that you can take advantage of new technology as soon as it becomes available. You can do this by visiting the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center’s website at http://www.rercwts.pitt.edu/

You can download this document "How Safe is Your Wheelchair" in a PDF format. This will make it easy to print and give to others or use as part of an educational program.

You will need a free copy of Adobe Reader installed on your computer in order to do this.

Last updated: July 30, 2004

		An information fact sheet brought to you by… A project of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Wheelchair Transportation Safety How Safe is Your Wheelchair? What does a "transport safe" label mean? What are wheelchair transportation safety standards? Seating Systems and Mounted Equipment How important is a wheelchair tiedown system? Do I also need a wheelchair occupant restraint system? Belt Fit Summary Recommendations How safe is your wheelchair? As more and more wheelchair users become independent and have active work, school, and social lives, they are beginning to have a larger and larger presence in our communities and on the roadways. This is obviously a positive trend, both because it is indicative of their rising social and economic status and because their visibility acts to break down attitudinal barriers and stereotypes. But some transportation safety concerns do arise for wheelchair users who lead an on-the-go lifestyle. This article will attempt to shed some light on the complicated and often technical topic of wheelchair transportation safety. If you are a wheelchair user, and you remain in your wheelchair while riding in moving vehicles, ask yourself the following questions: Does your wheelchair have the “transport safe” label on it? How familiar are you with the types of standards a wheelchair must live up to in order to be labeled transport safe? Is your seating system the one that came with the wheelchair, or did you obtain a different seating system because of specific positioning needs? Do you have equipment mounted on your wheelchair such as a lap tray or augmentative communication device? Do you always tie your wheelchair down to the floor of the vehicle you are riding in? Do you always wear at least a lap restraint and preferably a shoulder restraint when you travel in vehicles? How well do the shoulder and lap belts generally fit you? What does a "transport safe" label mean? If your wheelchair has the “transport safe” label on it - great! The "transport safe" label means that the manufacturer has put the wheelchair through rigorous crash tests, and the chair has safely survived those tests with little or no structural damage. Wheelchairs that have passed these tests have proven their ability to withstand a 30MPH collision. Wheelchairs that do not have the “transport safe” label have not been tested as to their safety for use as seats in moving vehicles. If a user of a non-transport safe wheelchair is involved in a collision, his/her wheelchair may be pulled apart by the crash forces, causing an extremely dangerous situation for the user and for other people in the vehicle. Therefore, if your wheelchair is not labeled transport safe, you should avoid using it while traveling in a moving vehicle if possible. What are wheelchair transportation safety standards? Several national and international working groups have developed standards for transit wheelchairs and wheelchair occupant restraint systems (seatbelts for wheelchair users). The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, (RESNA), and the American National Standards Institute, (ANSI), have collaborated to design specific required tests that a wheelchair must pass in order to be labeled transport safe. According to the ANSI/RESNA standards, a wheelchair must be able to withstand a 30MPH collision at 20G with little or no structural damage. Wheelchairs that meet the ANCI/RESNA standards must also have at least four securement points to which a tiedown strap can be safely attached. The Society of Automotive Engineers, (SAE), has developed test requirements for wheelchair tiedown systems and wheelchair occupant restraint systems. These standards dictate the manner in which tiedowns and occupant restraint systems should be designed and how strong their materials need to be in order to minimize the wheelchair user’s risk of injury in the event of a crash. The International Standards Organization, (ISO), has developed similar standards to those that ANSI/RESNA has designed, but the ISO standards apply internationally. More information on these standards can be found at: http://www.rercwts.pitt.edu While these standards represent great strides in the improvement of wheelchair transportation safety, they are only voluntary. Manufacturers are not required to produce wheelchairs that meet the standards. It is crucial that consumers choose wheelchairs carefully if they plan to use them as seats in motor vehicles. Seating Systems and Mounted Equipment Choosing a transport safe wheelchair will greatly decrease a wheelchair user’s risk of injury in the event of a crash. However, it is important to bear in mind that replacing or tinkering with any component of a transport safe wheelchair may invalidate the chair’s transport safe status. For example: If you elect not to use the seating system that came with the wheelchair, as many wheelchair users do, your new seating system may not have been tested for transport safety. This is especially true for custom-designed seating systems. Even if the wheelchair frame is strong enough to withstand crash forces, the seat or back of the chair may bend, come apart, or become detached from the frame, increasing the user’s risk of injury. The same thing can happen with devices mounted on wheelchairs, such as augmentative communication (AAC) devices and lap trays. Wheelchair users who have custom or aftermarket seating systems or who use devices mounted on their wheelchairs need to carefully consider the safety of using such devices during transit. Research is currently under way at the University of Pittsburgh’s Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center to develop safer seating systems and attachment hardware for transit wheelchairs. How important is a wheelchair tiedown system? All public buses and paratransit vehicles are required to be equipped with safe locations for wheelchair users to tiedown the wheelchair to the floor of the vehicle. Private cars equipped for wheelchair users should also have these tiedown points. But, securing a wheelchair is time-consuming. Wheelchair users who ride the bus may encounter pressure from the driver or other passengers to forego tying the chair down to the floor of the bus in the interest of time savings. However, failing to secure the wheelchair is a very dangerous practice. A wheelchair that is not anchored to the floor can become a lethal flying object in the event of a crash. Even in normal conditions, when buses lurch to a sudden halt or encounter bumpy roads, the chair can slide out of place and cause injury to the user or other passengers. It is therefore crucial that wheelchair users insist that their chairs be properly secured before the bus moves. Do I also need a wheelchair occupant restraint system? Wheelchair occupant restraint systems are just as important as tiedown systems. Often, people who sit in their wheelchairs while riding in vehicles lack the strength and mobility to easily transfer out of their chairs into a standard vehicle seat. This means that in a crash situation, such people may similarly be unable to grab and hold onto safety bars or other safety equipment in the vehicle. Therefore, in the event of a crash or even just a sudden stop, the occupant restraint system may be the only thing preventing the user from lurching out of the wheelchair. Caution!: the occupant restraint belt is NOT the same as or equivalent to a user’s positioning belt. Positioning belts are only intended to help provide postural support. The material that they are made of is not strong enough to prevent or reduce injury in the event of a crash. The wheelchair occupant restraint system is crucial for wheelchair transportation safety, even for those who use positioning belts. As with tiedown systems, occupant restraint systems are often time-consuming to secure, and the wheelchair user will often require assistance to put on the restraint. Some para-transit and bus drivers either do not know how to operate the restraint or are unwilling to take the time to fasten it. All public buses and paratransit vehicles, as well as private cars outfitted for wheelchairs, are equipped with vehicle-mounted lap and shoulder restraints. Wheelchair users should insist on the use of these occupant restraint systems, even if they feel pressured not to by the driver or other passengers. Belt Fit Conventional, vehicle-mounted occupant restraint systems do not always fit every body, shape and size and every wheelchair design. If you are larger or smaller than average, or have a very tall or very short wheelchair, chances are good that conventional vehicle-mounted occupant restraint belts will not fit you very well. Restraint belts that fit poorly are not nearly as effective at preventing injury as those that fit well. They can also block the user’s access to augmentative communication devices or other equipment that is mounted on the wheelchair. Research is currently being conducted at the University of Pittsburgh’s Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center to develop and design occupant restraint systems that are anchored to the wheelchair, instead of to the vehicle. The so-called wheelchair integrated restraints can be custom-fitted to each user, so they are often safer than ill-fitting vehicle-mounted restraints. Integrated restraint systems have the added advantage of often being easier for the user to fasten independently. Hopefully in the next few years, wheelchair manufacturers will begin building these restraints into their transport safe wheelchairs. Summary Recommendations If you sit in your wheelchair while riding in vehicles, be sure the wheelchair is labeled "transport safe." If your current wheelchair is not transport safe but you must use it while riding in vehicles, take as many safety precautions as possible, such as: tying your wheelchair down wearing a vehicle-mounted occupant restraint sitting facing toward the front of the vehicle. Become familiar with the various wheelchair transportation safety standards. Take into consideration the risk factors involved in using a custom-built or after-market seating system. Be sure that any equipment mounted to your wheelchair is bolted securely, and realize that this equipment may be dangerous to you or others in the event of a crash. Always insist that your wheelchair be securely tied down to the floor of the vehicle you are riding in. Take the extra time and buckle up, even if that means explaining to the vehicle’s driver how to fasten the restraint system correctly. If vehicle-mounted occupant restraints do not generally fit you very well, remember that wearing them is still safer than not wearing them. Stay informed about the progress of wheelchair transportation safety research so that you can take advantage of new technology as soon as it becomes available. You can do this by visiting the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center’s website at http://www.rercwts.pitt.edu/ You can download this document "How Safe is Your Wheelchair" in a PDF format. This will make it easy to print and give to others or use as part of an educational program. You will need a free copy of Adobe Reader installed on your computer in order to do this. Last updated: July 30, 2004
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How Safe is Your Wheelchair?