The TNO Road-Vehicles Research Institute is involved in a long-term research programme on the transport of wheelchair occupants. The objective of this programme was to develop requirements regarding the safety and operation of wheelchair occupant protection systems. Many users and experts in this field had their doubts about the safety of these systems. Therefore normal and extreme driving manoeuvres were simulated to evaluate the strength and the stability of some presently used Dutch protection systems. In addition dynamic sled tests were carried out, simulating different types of crashes. The handling of the systems was also evaluated. The tests showed that even light impacts or sudden manoeuvres can induce failure of the used protection systems.
In this paper results of this experimental test programme will be presented and recommendations for future regulations in this field will be made. Guidelines for improved wheelchair occupant protection system design are also included.