Just wondering about wheelchair accessible vehicles ...

[nappyaddict]

I think I'm right in saying that there are usually straps to strap all 4 wheels to the floor? But in a crash wouldn't you just be thrown out of the wheelchair?

We haven't got a WAV, but dd's wheelchair (Blade Plus) has got a very sturdy seatbelt that is bolted to the wheelchair chassis. They're tested to make sure they're safe for use whilst travelling in vehicles.

So if you were to say use a taxi, she would be strapped into the wheelchair using the seatbelt (i suppose similar to strapping a baby in a buggy) and then the wheelchair would be strapped to the floor?

I guess so. We haven't had to do this though, we've got a Motability car and dd is OK to sit on a normal car seat.

in a wav the wheelchair secured to the floor via traps, the the person wears a seat belt.
in a taxi there are no floor starps, and i can't see that the person would be able
wear a seat belt so IMO very unsafe(same goes for buses) of course school cn buses would have all the right stuff.

straps not traps

most taxis have seatbelts for wheelchairs but they keep them stashed away when not in use. ds's taxi for school has 4 tie down straps on the wheelchair then two straps that join together over his hips and two straps that tether to the bulkhead then come down either shoulder and join onto the lap belt so its like a 4 point harness IYKWIM?

wheelchairs are all generally crash tested but the straps on the wheelchairs are usually NOT. the harnesses will come apart at the buckles in a major shunt so seatbelts MUST be used as well.

Wh/ch taxis also have straps to anchor the wheelchair as well as seatbelt for the user. You are not supposed to only use the integral wheelchair strap. As glittery says...

Also the wheelchair should have anchor points clearly labelled - you don't just attach the anchor straps anyoldhow!

Thanks - this is all new to us My grandad is coming out of hospital but will be in a wheelchair and we are just trying to sort out the logistics of getting him about when he's back.

So am I right in saying even if his wheelchair has a built in harness, we should ask for a taxi which has 4 anchor straps and also a wheelchair seatbelt?

glittery does your DS' school use a special taxi or is just sent from a local company iyswim? Just wondering as it seems people have varying experiences of taxis with disabled access having anchor straps and wheelchair seatbelts or not.

My dd2 goes to school in a taxi which provides the sch transport here. Sometimes its a vw transporter, sometimes a smaller vehicule, but always with ramps, clamps and setbelt for her.

In some vehicules the anchor strap at the back is a Y shape so two anchor points for chair, running to one at point of attachment to vehicule.

Ask for your local authority transport booklet with safety rules, guidelines etc.

Riven I'm really surprised they don't strap your dd in!

ds has a Peugeout E7 wheelchair accessible taxi for school, same taxi everyday from local firm on contract

i was reading the other day that not all areas have the newer safer Peugeot E7 wheelchair accessible taxis and still use the older style black cabs

this is regarding taxis in Liverpool...

another article here about how insafe it is travelling sideways and unsecured in a black cab, someones taking it to court under the DDA

i meant unsafe of course!

Is it also unsafe to travel backwards in a black cab? That's how wheelchairs are meant to travel in black cabs aren't they?

yeah you are meant to travel backwards with the back of the wheelchair against the bulkhead, think the issue with some black cabs is the wheelchair is placed sideways

Riven and 2shoes do your DC travel by black cab rather than a MPV type vehicle? It seems the taxis with the anchors and seatbelts are these new style MPV taxis rather than the old style black cabs.

www.cabdirect.com/vehicles/new_e7/ this is like ds's

dd can't fit in a taxi, there isn't enough head room

2shoes: oh dear, not even a wv transporter type taxi?

I used to share a taxi with a lad in a wheelchair. The chair was secured via ratchet straps, so very strong, and he wore a standard seatbelt. This is also the arrangement in the WAV we have for my uncle who uses a wheelchair.

I think a lot of wheelchairs only fit sideways in a black cab so not safe but she should fit in a E7 or VW transporter type thing.

The taxi's we had were VW transporter types, and the lad I shared with was about 6ft something, he had no problems, even when he raised his chair up a bit.