Vehicles must be equipped to transport wheelchair passengers safely. This includes:
- boarding and then manoeuvring a reference wheelchair without lifting any wheels of the wheelchair from the floor
- transporting wheelchairs facing forward or rearward if the passenger is travelling in the wheelchair
- minimum headroom of 1350mm over the wheelchair space
- a fitted ramp or lift for wheelchair access
- manufacturer's user manual for boarding, alighting and securing wheelchair passengers
Ramps
Ramps must be securely located at the wheelchair entry point and safely stowed when not in use without obstructing exits. Your ramp should be:
- at least 700mm wide and no longer than 1900mm in length when in position
- made of a non-slip surface with high-contrast edges and 25mm high flanges to keep the wheelchair securely in place
- minimum safe working load of 250kg
- when the ramp is in use it must be secure for the safety of passenger and driver
- ramps must be stowed so it does not to cause any injury to passenger or driver if in an accident
- ramps must not obstruct any handle or other door opening device and should be stored so that it can easily be moved from inside the vehicle if in an accident
Lifts
Lifts must be securely located at the wheelchair entry point and safely stowed when not in use without obstructing exits. Your lift should:
- accommodate a reference wheelchair with a non-slip surface and 25mm high flanges to keep the wheelchair securely in place
- the rear edge must have a 100mm high device to prevent rolling off
- high-contrast edges
- work only when the vehicle is stationary, with a minimum safe working load of 300kg
- if power operated a manual operation in case of power failure
All power lifts should adhere to the Lifting Operations and Lifting Regulations 1997 (LOLER) which require testing and certification by a competent person every 6 months. A valid test certificate is required for vehicle inspection with us.
Securing the wheelchair
A wheelchair must always be secured independently from the occupant.
Rearward-facing wheelchair
- use a tie-down system with at least 2 straps, positioned symmetrically about the wheelchair's centreline
- the system must withstand a force of 8.2kN applied horizontally via a wheelchair loading apparatus designed for a reference wheelchair
Forward-facing wheelchair
- use a 4-point tie-down system, positioned symmetrically about the wheelchair's centreline
- the system must comply with ISO 10542-1:2012 and withstand forces of 24.5kN and 8.2kN applied horizontally via a wheelchair loading apparatus designed for a reference wheelchair
Securing the wheelchair user
Any wheelchair user, whether travelling rear-facing or forward-facing, should be given similar levels of protection to any other passenger.
Rearward-facing wheelchair
- as a minimum you should provide a 3-point belt for the passenger, complying with UN ECE Regulation 16 or ISO 10542-1:2012
Forward-facing wheelchair
- as a minimum you should provide a 3-point belt for the passenger, complying with ISO 10542-1:2012
- ensure the belt contacts the wearer's pelvis rather than the arms or other rigid parts of the wheelchair