Development of an Australian standard for wheelchair occupant restraint assemblies for motor vehicles

An Australian Standard for Wheelchair Occupant Restraint Assemblies for Motor Vehicles has been produced. Titled Australian standard 2942-1987, Wheelchair Occupant Restraint Assemblies for Use in Motor Vehicles, it establishes design and performance requirements for these restraints, and includes details of dynamic testing procedures. Under the Standard, a lap belt is the basic occupant restraint required with the wheelchair restrained independently of the occupant. The Standard, instead of specifying a "standard" design for wheelchair occupant restraint assemblies, is intended to ensure effective crash protection for wheelchair occupants with a minimum of restriction on the design of restraints. It requires that instructions for installation and use of restraints be provided. Also included in the Standard is an advisory section providing general information for restraint users such as the types of wheelchairs best suited for use in vehicles. This appears to be the first national Standard for wheelchair occupant restraint assemblies for motor vehicles, and may well form the basis of similar standards elsewhere.