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GRSP December 2004 The Safety of Wheelchair Occupants in Road Transport Vehicles

Informal document No . GRSP-36-17 (36 th GRSP, 7-10 December 2004, agenda item B.3.3.). GRSP December 2004 The Safety of Wheelchair Occupants in Road Transport Vehicles. Donald Macdonald Head of Engineering and Research Mobility & Inclusion Unit Department for Transport.

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GRSP December 2004 The Safety of Wheelchair Occupants in Road Transport Vehicles

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  1. Informal document No. GRSP-36-17 (36th GRSP, 7-10 December 2004, agenda item B.3.3.) GRSP December 2004The Safety of Wheelchair Occupants in Road Transport Vehicles Donald Macdonald Head of Engineering and Research Mobility & Inclusion UnitDepartment for Transport

  2. European Community and UNECE • European Community has developed Directives on vehicle safety and environmental matters • Directives often mirror UNECE Regulations • 2001/85/EC is based on UNECE Regulations 36, 52 and 107 - but consolidates all provisions in one document • UNECE Regulations did not have provisions for safety of wheelchair users so EC Directive introduced standards

  3. Development of UNECE 107 01 • Equivalent UNECE Regulation is 107 Rev 01 • Scope is M2 and M3 Vehicles (more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver) • Has provisions for wheelchair tiedowns and occupant restraints

  4. GRSG Ad hoc Group on Accessibility • Development of accessibility provisions in Regulation 107 01 • Includes general accessibility as well as wheelchair user provisions • Steps, handrails, priority seats, gangways, floor slopes, colour contrasts, route and destination displays

  5. Buses Main Requirements • Step height 250mm • Kneeling • Step edge marking • Handrails both sides • And to priority seats • Floor covering • Colour contrast

  6. Coaches Main Requirements • Step height 320mm • Kneeling • Step edge marking • Handrails on both sides • Floor covering • Colour contrast

  7. User need - the passengers • Two thirds of disabled people are elderly • Over half the population aged 75+ has a disability • In the next 40 years the population aged 65+ will double • the population aged over 80 will treble • In the same period the overall population will increase by less than 7%

  8. Numbers of Disabled People in UK • 8.7 million people have loss of hearing • 6 million have cognitive impairment • 2 million have low vision • 1.5 million have ambulatory disabilities • 1 million wheelchair users • 10 million in total

  9. Non Statutory Standards • ISO 10542 - Wheelchair Tiedown and Occupant Restraint Systems • ISO 7176 Part 19 - Wheelchairs

  10. Buses - Technical Requirements • Defined wheelchair space 1300 x 750 x 1500mm • Boarding device - ramp or lift • Rearward facing wheelchair space in a protected area • Padded head and back restraint • Vertical stanchion, retractable rail, partition or sidewall

  11. Taxis • Includes all taxis • Technical provisions for wheelchair users will be similar to those for buses and trains

  12. Background to Wheelchair User Safety Research Project • No previous fundamental research using instrumented dummies • Funded by the UK Department for Transport • Guided by a steering committee of stakeholders • Cost over £400 000

  13. Project Aim • Provide an appropriate level of safety for wheelchair users in passenger vehicles • Use conventionally seated passenger safety for comparison • Aim for equivalent or better levels of safety • Where necessary, recommend changes to legislation

  14. Project Scope • Passenger carrying vehicles • Vehicle categories: • M1:  8 seats + driver • M2: > 8 seats + driver;  5 tonnes • M3: > 8 seats + driver; > 5 tonnes • Address implications for vehicle, assuming current wheelchairs and restraint systems • Frontal Impacts Only

  15. Research parameters • Use ECE R44 pulse (48-50 kph) for M1 & M2 vehicles • Use ECE R80 pulse (30 kph) for M3 vehicles • 4 wheelchair types: • Low mass manual • Electric • High mass electric • ISO 10542 surrogate (very stiff)

  16. Wheelchair types Low mass manual Electric High mass electric Surrogate

  17. Modelling Study • Modelling study carried out first • Results used to guide test programme

  18. Modelling Study • Models of taxi & bus interiors developed

  19. Modelling Study 44 analyses in total: • 3 wheelchair types • 3 dummy sizes • 2 tie-down systems • 2 diagonal restraint mounting positions • 3 vehicle types (taxi/minibus/bus) • forward and rear facing

  20. Modelling Study Diagonal belt anchored to floor Diagonal belt anchored to upper position

  21. Modelling Study Issues identified by modelling study: • Location of diagonal belt upper anchorage • Influence of head & back restraint

  22. Test Programme 37 impact tests carried out in total: • M1/M2 forward facing: 8 tests • M1/M2 rear facing: 10 tests • M3 forward facing: 13 tests • M3 rear facing: 6 tests

  23. Test Programme Variables: • 4 wheelchair types • 3 dummy sizes • 3 types of occupant restraint • 3 variations of head and back restraint • 3 types of tie-down (2-point, 4-point & clamp)

  24. Test Programme Parameters • Hybrid III dummies used (5th, 50th and 95th percentiles) • Instrumented at head, neck, chest, pelvis and lumbar • Belt and anchorage loads also recorded • Comparisons made against conventional injury criteria

  25. Test Programme Outputs • Risk to a wheelchair seated occupant compared to a vehicle seated occupant • Merits of a head and back restraint • Merits of different occupant restraint systems • ‘Flail’ space requirements • Anchorage load requirements

  26. Test Programme Recommendations • Energy absorbing head and back restraint greatly reduces likelihood of neck injury • Upper anchorage for diagonal occupant restraint preferable to floor mounted • Current vehicle anchorage strengths insufficient • Results dependant on strength of wheelchair itself (not covered by this project)

  27. Test Programme Conclusions • Wheelchair seated occupants can be provided with an equivalent level of safety to conventionally seated occupants with appropriate changes in vehicle legislation

  28. Important Lessons • Thousands of wheelchair users travel daily • Research is seeking to make improvements to their safety over time • Need to ensure that improvements are realistic and cost effective • Must not restrict disabled people’s mobility

  29. Next steps • Development of international regulations - Bus Directive 2001/85/EC and UNECE Regulation 107 • Ensure GRSG and GRSP are aware of progress • Develop appropriate standards for wheelchair users in M1 vehicles

  30. More information • DfT website: http://www.dft.gov.uk • UNECE website

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