Wheelchairs in Vehicles

Powered wheelchairs can require additional planning in vehicle transport because of their mass, frame design, seating functions, batteries and accessories. The wheelchair manufacturer’s transport information and the installed WTORS should be checked before deciding how the wheelchair will be secured and how the occupant restraint will be routed. Why can powered wheelchairs be more difficult […]

Read article about Transporting Powered Wheelchairs in Vehicles: Key WTORS Considerations

Wheelchair users can and do drive. Many do not require any modifications to their vehicle, provided it has enough space to store the chair. However, an abundance of adaptive technology is available for drivers requiring hand-controlled brakes and acceleration, joystick steering, or touch ignition. Over two million people in the US use wheelchairs as a […]

Read article about Can Wheelchair Users Drive?

Can a Wheelchair Passenger Travel Rear-Facing in a Vehicle? Rear-facing wheelchair travel can be appropriate in some purpose-designed public-transport environments, but it should not be assumed to be suitable for every wheelchair accessible vehicle. The correct orientation depends on the vehicle class, installed securement or containment system, manufacturer instructions, applicable standards and local regulatory requirements. […]

Read article about Can a Wheelchair Passenger Travel Rear-Facing in a Vehicle?

There is no single universal wheelchair-space dimension that works for every vehicle, wheelchair and occupant. The required space depends on the wheelchair, the passenger, the WTORS, vehicle layout, applicable standards and local regulatory requirements. Why does wheelchair space matter? Wheelchair space affects more than whether the chair physically fits inside the vehicle. It also affects […]

Read article about Wheelchair Space and Clearance Requirements in Vehicles

No. Not every wheelchair is designed or tested to be used as the occupant’s seat in a motor vehicle. When a passenger remains seated in a wheelchair during vehicle travel, the wheelchair itself becomes part of the transportation safety system and its suitability for that use needs to be considered. What is a transport-ready wheelchair? […]

Read article about Are All Wheelchairs Safe to Use as Seats in Vehicles?