Wheelchair Securement and Occupant Restraint System (WTORS) Practices in Public Transit Buses

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize wheelchair tiedown and occupant restraint system (WTORS) usage in public transit buses based on observations of wheelchair and scooter (wheeled mobility device: WhMD) passenger trips. A retrospective review of on-board video surveillance recordings of WhMD trips on fixed-route, large accessible transit vehicles (LATVs) was performed. Two hundred ninety-five video recordings were collected for review and analysis during the period June 2007-February 2009. Results showed that 73.6% of WhMDs were unsecured during transit. Complete use of all four tiedowns was observed more frequently for manual wheelchairs (14.9%) and power wheelchairs (5.5%), compared to scooters (0.0%), and this difference was significant (p=0.013). Nonuse or misuse (lap belt use only) of the occupant restraint system occurred during 47.5% of WhMD trips. The most frequently observed (52.5%) use of the lap belt consisted of bus operators routing the lap belt around the WhMD seatback in an attempt to secure the WhMD. These findings support the need for development and implementation of WTORS with improved usability and/or WTORS that can be operated independently by WhMD passengers and improved WTORS training for bus operators.

Effects of Speed, Curves, and Driver Behavior on Passive Securement Systems on Large Transit Buses

“…In 2013, Frost et al found that for the past 20 years, forward-facing belt-type securement systems were the most common securement system in the U.S. on large transit vehicles. The researchers also found that only 7.5% of trips made by people in manual chairs used securement systems (Frost et al 2013).…”

Consequences of four-point, strap-type wheelchair tiedown and occupant restraint system practices on wheelchair passenger safety in fixed-route transit.

“…ADA requirements 8 include static loading thresholds of at least 2500 lb per tiedown (and at least 5000 lb for entire securement system), while SAE J2249 14 and ISO 10542-2 19 have performance requirements that incorporate dynamic testing (frontal impact, 20g, 30mph). However, as previously mentioned, problems with WTORS ease and frequency of use have been reported 3,21 . In a previous study, we reported that complete use of tiedowns (application of all four tiedowns) to secure wheelchairs was observed in only 7.5% of wheelchair passenger trips in LATVs, while tiedown misuse (application of one to three tiedowns) was observed in 18.9% of trips and misuse of the lap belt in an attempt to secure the wheelchair was common (44% of trips) 21 .…”

“…In a previous study, we reported that complete use of tiedowns (application of all four tiedowns) to secure wheelchairs was observed in only 7.5% of wheelchair passenger trips in LATVs, while tiedown misuse (application of one to three tiedowns) was observed in 18.9% of trips and misuse of the lap belt in an attempt to secure the wheelchair was common (44% of trips) 21 . Additionally, we found in our previous study that the majority (73.6%) of observed wheelchair passenger trips in LATVs had evidence of nonuse (zero tiedowns used) during transit 21 . Current research is underway to identify alternative solutions to wheelchair securement in a low-g environment (< 1g).…”

“…Certainly the proper usage of wheelchair tiedown and occupant restraint systems (WTORS) would be expected to provide safe transit under normal LATV driving conditions. However, WTORS disuse and misuse has been documented 3,21 , in part because the 4-pont, belt type wheelchair tiedowns and occupant restraints are cumbersome to use and do not allow for wheelchair passenger independence with regard to wheelchair securement and passenger restraint. Current research is underway to identify alternative solutions to wheelchair securement in a low-g environment (< 1g).…”

“…Disuse and misuse of WTORS have been suspected to place wheelchair-seated passengers at greater risk of injury 3 . In our previous study 21 , we reviewed video surveillance records of WTORS usage on LATVs and found that the majority (76%) of wheelchairs were not secured using four point strap-type tiedowns during transport, and that misuse of the lap belt was common (44% of cases). Lap belt misuse consisted of the LATV operators routing the lap belt around the wheelchair seatback in an attempt to secure the wheelchair.…”