A contoured rear-facing restraint couch has been designed, fabricated and tested which protects wheelchair-confined passengers in simulated frontal barrier collisions at velocities of up to at least 25 mph and in simulated rear-end collisions. A cable system secures the wheelchair to the base of the restraint couch and is automatically engaged when the wheelchair is backed against the couch. A three-point belt system secures the passenger in rear-end collisions or during elastic rebound in frontal collisions. Plastic deformation of the couch framework limits g-loadings on passenger and couch even during severe impacts.