WC19: a wheelchair transportation safety standard--experience to date and future directions.
ANSI/RESNA WC19 (i.e., WC19) is a voluntary standard that specifies design and performance requirements for wheelchairs that are suitable for use as seats in motor vehicles. The guiding principles for the standard originate from automotive crash-protection principles that are effective in reducing occupant injuries and fatalities. In addition to frontal-impact testing of wheelchairs, the standard includes tests for securement-point accessibility, tiedown-strap clear paths, lateral stability, and accommodation of vehicle-anchored belt restraints. Results from testing wheelchairs to WC19 reveal that the most common wheelchair problems include: a lack of structural integrity during frontal-impact loading; sharp rigid edges; and wheelchair structures that interfere with achieving proper positioning of vehicle-anchored belt restraints. Data from 8 years of experience with WC19 indicate where changes are needed to further improve transportation safety for wheelchair-seated travelers. These include expanding WC19 to include wheelchairs for smaller children who require a five-point harness restraint, and requiring wheelchairs to achieve a minimal rating for the ease of achieving proper positioning of vehicle-anchored belt restraints.
University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, 2901 Baxter Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2150, USA. mmanary@umich.edu
Miriam A
MA
Manary
Nichole L
NL
Ritchie
Lawrence W
LW
Schneider
D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D002648:Child; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004869:Equipment Safety / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D012449:Safety / Q000592:standards*; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000592:standards; D013997:Time Factors; D014186:Transportation / Q000592:standards*; D014910:Wheelchairs / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control