How to Ensure Your Safety in a Wheelchair Van?
How to Ensure Your Safety in a Wheelchair Van?
Wheelchair vans are an essential part of life for many people with disabilities. They provide a safe and convenient way to get around, and they can help people to live more independent lives. However, it is important to ensure that wheelchair vans are used safely. Here are some tips for ensuring safety in a wheelchair van:
- Always wear your seat belt. This is the most important safety tip for anyone riding in a wheelchair van. Even if you are belted into your wheelchair, you need to be secured to the van with a seat belt as well. This will help to keep you safe in the event of an accident.
- Use a four-point tie-down system. This is the safest way to secure your wheelchair to the van. The four-point system uses straps to secure your wheelchair at the front, back, and sides. This will help to prevent your wheelchair from moving around in the van in the event of an accident.
- Use a WC-19-compliant wheelchair. This type of wheelchair is designed to be used in wheelchair vans. It has features that make it easier to secure to the van, and it is also more likely to withstand the forces involved in a crash.
- Remove and stow loose components. This includes things like footrests, armrests, and any other accessories that are not necessary for you to ride in the van. Loose items can become projectiles in the event of an accident, so it is important to remove them and store them safely before you start driving.
- Have someone double-check your safety restraints. It is always a good idea to have someone else check to make sure that you are properly secured in your wheelchair and in the van before you start driving. This will help to ensure that you are safe in the event of an accident.
- Be aware of your surroundings. When you are driving a wheelchair van, it is important to be aware of your surroundings. This includes other vehicles on the road, pedestrians, and anything else that could pose a hazard. Be sure to drive carefully and obey all traffic laws.
- Remove and stow loose components. This includes things like footrests, armrests, and any other accessories that are not necessary for you to ride in the van. Loose items can become projectiles in the event of an accident, so it is important to remove them and store them safely before you start driving.
By following these tips, you can help to ensure your safety and the safety of others when you are riding in a wheelchair van.
About Adaptive Vans
Since 1979, Adaptive Vans has had one clear goal: to provide our customers with excellence, simplicity and convenience at an affordable price. We are a proud charter member of the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) and align with their mission to improve transportation options for people with disabilities. We strive to produce high quality wheelchair accessible vehicles to help people with disabilities lead happy, healthy and more mobile lives.
We also take safety very seriously. As a member of NMEDA, we strictly adhere to the safety standards of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and participate in NMEDA’s Quality Assurance Program™ (QAP), a nationally recognized accreditation program for the mobility equipment industry developed to promote quality, dependability, and safety.
In 1979 Adaptive Mobility Systems, Inc. began by installing lifts and custom components in vans for wheelchair accessibility. In 1999, under current management, we designed and manufactured our first lowered floor minivan conversion. We have built and crash tested our minimally invasive conversions on the Dodge, Chrysler, VW, Kia, Honda, and Toyota minivan platforms while not compromising the structural integrity of the vehicle and exceeding safety standards.
From 1999 to 2017 all our conversions were sold exclusively by AMS Vans, an internet marketer, under the branding “AMS.” In late 2017 AMS Vans sold its business, ending our long partnership. We now independently sell our conversions to mobility dealers all over the United States, and recently to the public with the new branding “Adaptive Vans.” Using the knowledge and skills we gained from converting over 7,000 vans we believe we can offer the strongest, simplest, and safest wheelchair accessible vans at a price no other manufacturer can compete with.
Based in Tucker, Georgia, our production facility is staffed with skilled professionals, using the latest technology to create converted vehicles that are easy to maintain and service at one of our many service centers across the country. Whether selecting a van from our inventory or converting a van purchased from another source, our finished products appear and perform nearly identical from a vehicle purchased directly from the manufacturer’s showroom. We are able to perform conversions that match up with our customers’ needs and desires. Whether they are looking for side or rear entry, we are able to come up with the perfect solution at a price that is well within reach for most families.
Thanks to our long-standing reputation as a trusted brand, we are able to work with mobility dealers and car dealerships to help them provide their customers with the freedom and accessibility that a wheelchair-accessible van can deliver.
Safety, reliability and quality. Take a look at what Adaptive Vans has to offer and start planning your mobile future.
