Use and Performance of Occupant Restraint Systems for Wheelchair Users in Real-World Crashes

Klinich, K.D., Moore, J., Manary, M.A., Schneider, L. 2006. Use and Performance of Occupant Restraint Systems for Wheelchair Users in Real-World Crashes. RESNA Conference Proceedings.

Detailed information on 22 real-world crashes involving 23 wheelchair-seated occupants was collected from new crash investigations, news reports, and existing crash databases. For 21 occupants, the wheelchair tiedowns were used correctly and successfully secured the wheelchair during the crash. In one case, appropriate tiedowns were not installed in the vehicle, and in another case, the vehicle hardware to which the tiedowns were attached failed. However, results show that misuse of the occupant restraint systems by wheelchair occupants is common, with only nine occupants appropriately using a crash-tested lap/shoulder belt restraint. Wheelchair occupants failed to use shoulder belts, wore restraints loosely, routed lap belts incorrectly, or mistakenly thought that postural belts would provide sufficient protection in a crash. Summaries of cases that show the adverse consequences of restraint misuse are presented.