grsp december 2004 the safety of wheelchair occupants in road transport vehicles donald macdonald...
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GRSP December 2004
The Safety of Wheelchair Occupants in Road Transport Vehicles
GRSP December 2004
The Safety of Wheelchair Occupants in Road Transport Vehicles
Donald Macdonald
Head of Engineering and Research
Mobility & Inclusion UnitDepartment for Transport
Donald Macdonald
Head of Engineering and Research
Mobility & Inclusion UnitDepartment for Transport
Informal document No. GRSP-36-17(36th GRSP, 7-10 December 2004,
agenda item B.3.3.)
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
• 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
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
• 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
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
• 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
Buses Buses
Main Requirements
• Step height 250mm
• Kneeling
• Step edge marking
• Handrails both sides
• And to priority seats
• Floor covering
• Colour contrast
Main Requirements
• Step height 250mm
• Kneeling
• Step edge marking
• Handrails both sides
• And to priority seats
• Floor covering
• Colour contrast
Coaches Coaches
Main Requirements
• Step height 320mm
• Kneeling
• Step edge marking
• Handrails on both sides
• Floor covering
• Colour contrast
Main Requirements
• Step height 320mm
• Kneeling
• Step edge marking
• Handrails on both sides
• Floor covering
• Colour contrast
User need - the passengersUser 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%
• 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%
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
• 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
Non Statutory Standards
• ISO 10542 - Wheelchair Tiedown and Occupant Restraint Systems
• ISO 7176 Part 19 - Wheelchairs
• ISO 10542 - Wheelchair Tiedown and Occupant Restraint Systems
• ISO 7176 Part 19 - Wheelchairs
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
• 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
Taxis
• Includes all taxis
• Technical provisions for wheelchair users will be similar to those for buses and trains
• Includes all taxis
• Technical provisions for wheelchair users will be similar to those for buses and trains
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
• 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
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
• 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
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
• 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
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)
• 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)
Wheelchair types
Low mass manual Electric
High mass electric Surrogate
Modelling Study
• Modelling study carried out first
• Results used to guide test programme
• Modelling study carried out first
• Results used to guide test programme
Modelling Study
• Models of taxi & bus interiors developed• Models of taxi & bus interiors developed
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
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
Modelling Study
Diagonal belt anchored to floor
Diagonal belt anchored to upper position
Modelling Study
Issues identified by modelling study:
• Location of diagonal belt upper anchorage
• Influence of head & back restraint
Issues identified by modelling study:
• Location of diagonal belt upper anchorage
• Influence of head & back restraint
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
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
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)
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)
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
• 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
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
• 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
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)
• 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)
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
• Wheelchair seated occupants can be provided with an equivalent level of safety to conventionally seated occupants with appropriate changes in vehicle legislation
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
• 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
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
• 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
More information
• DfT website:
http://www.dft.gov.uk
• UNECE website
• DfT website:
http://www.dft.gov.uk
• UNECE website