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A wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) is an adapted vehicle that allows you to travel in the car whilst remaining seated in your wheelchair.
Designed with the wheelchair user’s safety in mind, this road safety week we’re highlighting the ways in which a passenger WAV can make travelling on the road as a wheelchair user safer and easier.
Safer Entry and Exit
Compared to a standard car, entering and exiting an Allied Mobility wheelchair accessible car is made safer and easier thanks to a range of accessibility considerations such as a lowered floor, lightweight, easy-use ramp and an electric-assist winch.
The lowered floor provides the wheelchair user with enough headroom to travel comfortably inside the WAV. It also ensures that the access ramp sits at a low gradient so that when you are travelling up and down the ramp, you don’t have to exert too much energy.
To make using the accessible ramp even easier, all of our passenger WAVs come equipped with an electric-assist winch which serves to guide and support the wheelchair user in and out of the vehicle, reducing physical effort for you and your companion or carer.
Reduced Risk of Injury
For many wheelchair users with significantly reduced mobility, transferring from your wheelchair to a standard passenger seat can often become very physically demanding. This can also prove true for carers of disabled people who no longer have the strength required to assist their loved ones from their wheelchair to the car.
Likewise, for families with a disabled child, a WAV is a safe option for road travel as it removes the struggle of transferring a growing child from their wheelchair to their passenger seat.
Indeed, the alternative and comfortable solution to having to transfer from a wheelchair to a standard car seat, either independently or with the help of a hoist or carer, is one of the most popular reasons as to why our customers choose a WAV.
For Chris and Joanne Hawcroft, their WAV became vital in ensuring Joanne could help her disabled husband, Chris, into the car safely.
Reflecting on their experience with a standard car, Joanne shared, “It was getting to the point where it could be dangerous because he’s not light. I mean, if I stood him up and he lost his balance and he’s on the floor, then, you’re struggling.”
Thanks to their Ford Independence™, the couple can now travel without fear.
“The WAV, it’s life changing”, Chris tells us.
Similarly, Ian Bowler, from Armagh, loves how easy and safe a WAV makes travel not only for himself as the wheelchair user, but for his wife and carer. Speaking about his experience with his Peugeot Horizon™ WAV, Ian says:
“It’s made things easier on my wife, Sandra, and my carer because the electric-assist winch pulls me in.”
Safe and Secure in the Vehicle
Each of our WAVs are designed and tested to Whole Vehicle Type Approval and are fully compatible with UK wheelchair accessible vehicle standard – PAS 2012.
As well as the regular safety features found in standard modern cars, our WAVs come equipped with wheelchair specific safety features such as high-quality Q’Straint restraints and a three-point wheelchair occupant seatbelt to ensure the wheelchair user has a safe and secure journey.
Plus, as all of our WAVs are converted from base models from trusted manufacturers such as Ford, Peugeot, Citroen, Volkswagen, Vauxhall and Renault, each of our vehicles come fitted with the same driving features as standard cars. This can include the likes of Sat Navs, reversing cameras, speed limiters and lane assist technology.
Find the WAV for You!
With a wide range of WAVs available to lease with the Motability Scheme, purchase new or used, or hire for short or long-term, we won’t just suggest any WAV, our expert mobility advisors will listen to your wants and needs to help find the perfect WAV option for you. Give them a call today on the number at the top of the page browse our WAVs using the buttons below.
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