Reminder: Wheelchair Safety While Driving or Riding

If you use a wheelchair, you probably know how to get into and out of a car safely. You’ve seen a certified driver rehabilitation specialist and know the rules. But it doesn’t hurt to go over them periodically, and perhaps correct some bad habits we’ve fallen into – and start the New Year off right.

The following guidelines increase safety for wheelchair-seated riders and drivers.

Where to sit

• If possible, transfer into the vehicle’s seat, which is crash designed for greatest protection.
• If you can’t, it is safest to have a WCl9-compliant, transit-ready wheelchair. Non-WCl9-compliant wheelchairs are generally not strong enough to withstand the impact forces that can result in a crash.
• WC19-compliant wheelchairs are designed for use as a motor-vehicle seat and have been crash-tested. Visit this website resource for more info on WC19-compliant wheelchairs.

Seat / safety belt

• Safety belts are the law in almost every state – and that applies to wheelchair users, so position the safety shoulder and lap belt correctly.
• To prevent a wheelchair-seated driver from hitting vehicle structures (windshield, dashboard, etc.) during a crash, it is important to use a safety belt system composed of a shoulder and lap belt that fit snugly across the pelvis, chest and shoulder – not the wheelchair belt.
• Wheelchair belts have not been crash-tested and some are designed to break away from the wheelchair when in a crash. Exceptions are WC19-compliant wheelchairs that come with crash-tested safety belts.

Feeling tied down is a good thing

• Always use a crash-tested securement system to safely anchor the wheelchair using a 4-point tie-down system to keep it stationary – whether you are sitting in the vehicle seat or in the wheelchair.
• An automatic lock-down system will also work to make the manual tie-down system easier. It connects to a bracket installed on the bottom of the wheelchair, allowing independent wheelchair securement.

This mobility safety update has been brought to you by NMEDA – the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association. Need some information on how to make your vehicle wheelchair accessible or upgraded with the latest and most convenient features? Contact a NMEDA dealer in your local area. Your local NMEDA member is a mobility equipment and accessibility expert!

The 4 Steps to Driving Independence

If you have recently become a person with a disability or you’re a senior and realize your driving skills have declined over the years, don’t self diagnose or speculate about the type of adaptive equipment you may need. There are four other places to start the process of confident driving independence.

Don’t buy anything yet – not a van or even hand controls – before you consult with these four places!

Start with (1) your physician and discuss your concern/challenge. He/she will diagnose your problem and may recommend (2) an occupational therapist (OT). If the OT cannot help, the next step is (3) a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS).

A CDRS evaluates your skills and decides if you’ll be able to drive with vehicle modifications and adaptive equipment, determine what is best for your unique needs and train you on their use.

During the evaluation you can try an assortment of equipment to enhance your abilities. Some equipment (turning seat, hand controls, etc.) may be more than you need today, but you may need them in six months or a year.

When you feel confident with the equipment, you can train on the road, in traffic.

The cost of a CDRS evaluation and training varies. Get an estimate from the evaluator and submit it to your insurance company and/or your state’s dept. of rehabilitation, who may assist with the cost.

When you decide you’re ready to purchase a van and/or adaptive or accessible equipment, consult with experts in the field. To locate one, call the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association at 866-948-8341 or visit www.nmeda.org.

Finally, take the driving test and get your license to drive!

To locate a Driver Rehabilitation Specialist in your area, contact The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists, 2425 N. Center St., #369 Hickory, North Carolina 28601 or visit www.aded.net. Call 828-855-1623 or toll free 866-672-9466 in the United States and Canada.

This mobility safety update has been brought to you by NMEDA – the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association. Need some information on how to make your vehicle wheelchair accessible or upgraded with the latest and most convenient features? Contact a NMEDA dealer in your local area. Your local NMEDA member is a mobility equipment and accessibility expert!

No More Blind Spots and Other Good News



Drivers with disabilities can have enlarged mirrors on their vehicles to detect blind spots and even radar-enabled blind spot detection devices to enhance their driving safety, but on Dec. 3, 2010 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed a new safety regulation that would effectively make rear-view cameras mandatory equipment in all new cars by late 2014.

The proposed rule is intended to help eliminate blind zones by having “a 180-degree view” around a car. Drivers will be able to see directly behind the vehicle when backing up – great news for those who have difficulty turning their head to see over their shoulder. Hopefully, the rule will be made final early next year.

This will not only enhance safety for drivers with disabilities, but for senior drivers and everyone else.

Many other technology-laden safety devices are already senior friendly and a blessing to anyone with disabilities. Four I especially like are below.

Adaptive cruise control maintains a pre-set speed, but, using radar, automatically adjusts your speed to maintain a proper space between your vehicle and the one ahead. If the car in front slows, your car brakes, then re-accelerates back to speed when space allows.

Electronic stability control (ESC) strategically applies the brakes to help restore traction and balance in extreme maneuvering, cutting down on rollovers. It is already standard on many vehicles, but NHTSA announced that it be mandated on all cars by model year 2012. ESC requires an antilock brake system (ABS), so all cars starting in 2012 will also have ABS brakes.

Lane-departure warning systems that let you know if you’re drifting over the yellow line are available on more and more vehicles.

Night Vision System senses infrared energy radiated by objects that you can’t see with headlights alone. It converts it into a visible image you can see, allowing more time to take action – and miss that pedestrian or animal.

This mobility safety update has been brought to you by NMEDA – the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association. Need some information on how to make your vehicle wheelchair accessible or upgraded with the latest and most convenient features? Contact a NMEDA dealer in your local area. Your local NMEDA member is a mobility equipment and accessibility expert!

Tips on Buying Auto Insurance for Those with Disabilities

Are you a safe driver? Discount! Are you married? Discount! Is your vehicle modified in any way? Oops. Modified vehicles send up red flags to insurance companies. They automatically link “modified” with activities like street racing, and can then legally hike premiums or deny coverage.

Make sure your company knows the modifications are due to disabilities and they understand the insurance is for the vehicle and the conversion components, plus coverage for replacement costs.

Shop around to get the best price.

According to The Hartford Financial Services Group, “Insuring a significantly modified vehicle, which increases the value of the vehicle, will cost more than the same non-modified vehicle, if the modifications are insured for physical damage — comprehensive and collision coverage. Liability coverage is not affected by vehicle modifications. If the modifications are not insured, premium will not be impacted.”

Modifications are not the only factors that influence premiums.

• Gender: Younger men pay more, as they tend to drive more aggressively and take more risks than females.
• Age: Young drivers in general pay more (a lot more) until they turn 21 (sometimes 25) and then rates increase again when they become seniors.

• Marital status: Single people pay more as they are more accident prone than married couples.
• Driving record: Tickets and/or accidents drive premiums higher.
• Type of vehicle: More expensive cars cost more to repair and that jacks up premiums.
• Education: (1) Lower premiums by taking a defensive driving class and sending a copy of the certificate to your insurance company. (2) College and high school students receive discounts by maintaining a high GPA. (3) College grads pay lower premiums than those with less education.
• Credit score: If you pay bills on time, you’re less likely to file an insurance claim, so your premiums are lower.
• Occupation: The more stressful your occupation and/or the more time you spend driving means higher premiums.
• Your location: Urban areas increase your premiums, as accidents and auto theft are much lower in rural areas. However, even moving 2 miles can possibly raise your insurance.
• Safety equipment: Candidates for lower rates include anti-theft devices, front and side airbags and an onboard service like OnStar and others.
• Organizations: Ask about discounts for organizations to which you belong, including military, senior organizations, etc.

This mobility safety update has been brought to you by NMEDA – the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association. Need some information on how to make your vehicle wheelchair accessible or upgraded with the latest and most convenient features? Contact a NMEDA dealer in your local area. Your local NMEDA member is a mobility equipment and accessibility expert!