Easy-Use Guide

How to Load a Wheelchair into a Vehicle

Posted on by Brotherwood
Loading Wheelchair into Car
29
Oct

A Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle is the easiest way to load a wheelchair and wheelchair user into a car.

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) are designed to make it as easy as possible for wheelchair users to get into a vehicle and travel in comfort, inclusion, and safety. With a range of adaptations and additional features, WAVs enable car access for wheelchair users. If you prefer to transfer to a car seat, accessible vehicles can also be used to transport a wheelchair in the back of a car.

Step-by-Step: Loading a Wheelchair into a Car

With a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle, it’s fast, safe and easy to transport a wheelchair user by car. Before you begin, ensure that you have at least 3 metres of space behind your vehicle, and that the vehicle is parked with the ignition OFF, and handbrake ON, on a flat, level surface.

 

Opening WAV Tailgate

1. Open the tailgate following the maufacturer’s instructions.

Opening WAV Ramp

2. Deploy the access ramp.

3. If the ramp is manual, it will be counterbalanced, making it light and easy to handle. Powered ramps can be operated by the remote control provided, or manually if necessary.

Pushing Wheelchair up to WAV

4. Position the wheelchair user at the base of the ramp and apply wheelchair brakes.

WAV restraint Release Button

5. Press the restraint release button inside the vehicle. The red light should be ON.

6. Pull both front restraint belts from inside the vehicle together.

Attaching WAV Restraints

7. Attach the front restraints to the designated anchor points at the front of the wheelchair.

IMPORTANT:
It is recommended that wheelchairs used in vehicles are ISO 7176 compliant with marked designated anchor points carrying the hook symbol.

WAV Restraint Release

8. Press the restraint release button inside the vehicle. The red light should be OFF.

9. POWERED LOADING WITH PAWRS
for manual wheelchairs

Release the wheelchair brakes. Press and hold hold the IN button on the PAWRS remote control. PAWRS will steadily pull the wheelchair user into the vehicle.

Pushing Wheelchair Into WAV

10. MANUAL LOADING WITH ELECTRICAL RETRACTORS or PAWRS
for manual or powered wheelchairs

Release the wheelchair brakes and push or use the wheelchair drive to ascend the ramp, ensuring that the belts retract together.

11. Position the wheelchair with the front restraint at approximately 45º.

12. IMPORTANT:
The attendant or carer should be positioned behind the wheelchair at all times when loading with either the Electrical Retractors or PAWRS.

13. IMPORTANT:
The MANUAL OVERRIDE lever should not be opened for normal operation of PAWRS. It is only to be used in the event of electrical failure.

14. IMPORTANT:
THE LOADING PROCEDURE SHOULD NOW BE COMPLETED FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FITTING THE WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINTS AND OCCUPANT SAFETY BELT.

Video: Loading a Wheelchair into a Car

Watch how effortless a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle makes it to load a wheelchair user into a car.

How to Secure a Wheelchair in a Car

Once the wheelchair user is inside the car, the wheelchair itself as well as the occupant will need to be securely restrained for safety.

The wheelchair and wheelchair user rely on separate restraint systems to secure them in place inside the vehicle.

Refer to our Easy-Use Guide for further instructions on how to use wheelchair restraints and how to use an occupant safety belt to ensure the wheelchair and user travel in safety.