Floor anchorage load and safety space for adult wheelchair users during a crash

Abstract

Over the last 20 years in France as well as generally in Europe and also in North America, the integration of disabled people into society has become a more and more pressing issue. Work is in progress to increase the safety level of wheelchair occupants up to becoming equivalent to that of able-bodied road vehicles occupants. Present world practices are that wheelchair occupants who are unable to transfer to a vehicle seat for transportation remain in their wheelchair, which is secured to the vehicle floor using tie downs, and the occupant is restrained in the wheelchair. The aim of this paper was to perform a series of crash tests to make sure that the current standards are suitable to identify possible failures in safety in the restraint systems intended for wheelchair users. To date, there is no specific regulatory criterion related to floor anchorage for wheelchairs in vehicles during a crash. At a 48 km/h crash test, loads reached 30 kN on rear anchorage, and 13 kN on shoulder belt. Also the kinematics analysis of the wheelchair user during impact pointed out dimension of his safety space.