Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, known as WAVs, give wheelchair users the freedom to move and travel that may otherwise be difficult to achieve. Whether they’re sitting behind the wheel or riding as a passenger, the user can get around thanks to the WAV and its accessible features. But do all mobility chairs fit into all WAVs? This question is something that must always be considered before either buying a new WAV or buying a new wheelchair.
In this article, we’re going to go through everything that should be considered when working out whether or not your chair is compatible with a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
Is your wheelchair crash-tested?
While not required by law, it is highly recommended to choose a wheelchair that has been crash-tested. The safest wheelchairs are ISO 7176-19 compliant, meaning they have passed a dynamic crash test that proves the frame won’t collapse under the force of an accident’s impact.
To ensure further safety, these wheelchairs are typically designed to work perfectly with ISO 10542-compliant restraint systems, which are the straps and seatbelts that anchor the chair to the floor of the vehicle.
If you’re choosing a wheelchair, we highly recommend looking for a model that has passed these rigorous standards for your peace of mind – simply look for the hook symbols on the frame as proof of compliance.
Wheelchair size
First, what size is your wheelchair? All vehicles are different, and while many wheelchair accessible vehicles are large, they may not be large enough for bigger-than-average wheelchairs, such as motorised wheelchairs. To ensure your wheelchair fits into the vehicle while the user is seated, measure from the ground to the top of the user’s head while they’re in the chair. This measurement can then be used to work out if the chair fits into the WAV.
Wheelchair type
The type of wheelchair will affect which vehicles it can fit into. Manual wheelchairs are very lightweight, making them compatible with almost all ramps and lifts. However, power wheelchairs are much heavier because of their motors and other features, so they may be too heavy for some vehicles to transport safely. You must also take into account the weight of the person who will be seated in the wheelchair: will their additional weight push their wheelchair type past the ramp or hoist’s safe weight limit?
Wheelchair additions
If your wheelchair has any additional features that impact the size or weight of the chair, it’s important to take these into account when making decisions. These features include things like specialised headrests, mounted oxygen tanks, elevated leg rests, and tilt mechanisms that would alter the size when in use. When measuring, make sure to include full recline, length, and width sizes, each with the user seated in the chair.
Wheelchair manoeuvrability
How well does your wheelchair turn? The amount of space you need to manoeuvre into place inside the vehicle is important when choosing a new chair or WAV. Power chairs with mid-wheel drive have a tight turning circle, ideal for navigating smaller WAV interiors. Rear-wheel drive power chairs and manual chairs, however, have a larger turning circle, and could find it difficult to manoeuvre into place in smaller WAVs. Take this into consideration when looking at the right WAV for your needs.
Can your chair handle a ramp incline?
If your wheelchair accessible vehicle has a ramp, or you’re planning to have one installed, then you’ll need to think about whether the wheelchair can make it up said ramp.
One thing that may stop this from happening is the battery box on an electric wheelchair. They typically sit low beneath the chair, and the start of the incline of a ramp could graze the box of some models. This doesn’t mean the chair is unsuitable for a wheelchair accessible vehicle; it just means that a ramp won’t be the right access point.
Another consideration is the chair and the user’s centre of gravity. If a particularly tall person is using a manual chair, there’s a chance that the higher centre of gravity of the pair could tip the chair backwards when rolling up a ramp.
Finally, if you have a rear-wheel drive power chair, it could lose traction on a ramp, especially if the ramp or wheels are wet. This may result in the wheels spinning, making the ramp impossible to navigate.
Where will the chair sit in the vehicle?
Whether a wheelchair is compatible with a WAV will depend on where the chair sits in the car. Will it replace one of the back passenger seats or the front passenger seat? Some wheelchairs won’t be suitable for upfront WAVs, depending on the chair’s size and weight; however, certain vehicle models are specially designed to handle these large wheelchairs.
Vehicle docking and tie-down systems
Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are equipped with systems that lock wheelchairs in place. This is essential to keep the chair user safe when the vehicle is in motion. There are two common systems found inside WAVs:
- Automatic docking system – How it works: The base of the wheelchair has a bolt or pin fixed to it, which automatically locks into a docking station bolted to the floor of the seat position in a WAV. The chair is released via a button either on the vehicle’s dashboard or on a control panel.
- Tie-down system – How it works: Using electric or retractable (or in some cases, manual) straps, the front of the wheelchair is strapped into place in the vehicle via its two front anchor points. Then, the two back anchor points of the chair are secured to the vehicle floor manually.
Different wheelchairs are suited to different restraint systems, but the majority will be compatible with one of the two. Other chairs will require more specialist systems, such as 6-point systems for heavy powerchairs, where even further stability is required. In almost all cases, any wheelchair can be locked into a WAV, but you’ll need to source a vehicle with the right restraint system for your existing chair. However, you can also have a vehicle adapted to suit your specific restraint needs with the help of an experienced WAV engineer, such as the team from Ransome Mobility.
Wheelchairs that cannot be used in a WAV
While most wheelchairs, both manual and electric, can be safely used as seating in WAVs, there are a few exceptions.
- Wheelchairs that cannot be anchored down properly via a tie-down system or docking system cannot safely be used for seating in a vehicle.
- Wheelchairs that exceed a vehicle’s weight or size limits while the user is seated cannot safely be used for seating in a vehicle.
- Mobility scooters cannot safely be used as seating in a vehicle.
As experts in the mobility industry for over 40 years, we highly recommend that wheelchair models that have not been crash-tested in accordance with ISO 7176-19 are not suitable for safe use in vehicles. As previously stated, it is not a legal requirement for manufacturers to crash-test their chairs, but we firmly believe that the safest option is those that have been tested and passed for vehicle use.
Wheelchair accessible vehicles from Ransome Mobility
If you are unsure if your vehicle can be used in a WAV, we can help. Either get in touch with our team with your questions and concerns, or visit us at our Ipswich showroom with your chair. We have a wide range of used and new WAVs for sale, and we can take the time to see which vehicles your chair is most compatible with.