Why We Use Q’Straint Wheelchair Restraints in Our WAVs

Did you know, all our passenger wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) are equipped with world-leading Q’Straint wheelchair restraints which are designed to carry up to 200kg – about the same weight as an adult male lion or a seriously hefty motorcycle! That means whether you’re travelling in a manual wheelchair or a larger powerchair, you can take comfort in knowing your Allied Mobility WAV is made so you can enjoy a safe, secure and comfortable journey.

The Q’Straint 200kg-rated restraints fitted in our WAVs are among of the strongest available on the market. However, not all converters use restraints built to this safety capacity. In this blog, we’ll explore why wheelchair restraints are such a critical part of your WAV’s safety and why we’ve chosen Q’Straint as our restraint partner to deliver wheelchair accessible vehicles that accommodate a wider, more inclusive range of wheelchair users.

What Does an Allied Mobility Wheelchair Tie-Down & Occupant Restraint System (WTORS) Look Like?

Our passenger WAVs are fitted with an integral system for safely securing a wheelchair with a user seated in it. The system consists of two parts:

A set of four-point wheelchair tie-downs (WT) which are also sometimes called wheelchair restraints
A three-point occupant restraint (OR) which is the wheelchair user’s seat belt.

The wheelchair tie-downs come as two pairs, two at the front of the wheelchair space and two at the rear. The tie-downs secure a wheelchair or powerchair in place, preventing any sudden movement during a journey. The front tie-downs are permanently fitted to the vehicle, while the rear removable Slide ‘n Click tie-downs are attached to anchorage points which are bolted securely to the floor of the WAV. The front and rear tie-downs are fitted with J Hooks or straps with tongue and buckle connectors depending on customer needs. The tie-downs should be attached to the designated section of the wheelchair or powerchair, usually marked with a karabiner symbol, or to a non-removeable part of the wheelchair frame if there is no marking. These tie-downs serve to hold your wheelchair in place – effectively transforming your wheelchair into a static car passenger seat.

Close-up of front wheelchair restraint hooks inside a WAV, showing two secure anchor points on the vehicle floor with arrows indicating attachment points.

Rear wheelchair restraints being attached to a powered wheelchair inside a WAV, showing secure straps and anchor points with karabiner symbol.

There’s also a dedicated three-point lap and shoulder seat belt to secure the travelling wheelchair user. The seat belt is designed to function in a similar manner to that of a regular car seat belt, but with the flexibility to accommodate many different wheelchair models. The additional diagonal shoulder belt provides significant safety improvements over older style two-point lap belts, with most models featuring an adjustable shoulder belt height to suit all users comfortably. Remember, the seat belt supplied in the vehicle should be used in addition to any postural support belts fitted to your wheelchair!

Wheelchair user seated inside a WAV wearing a three-point seatbelt, viewed through the open side door of the vehicle.

Don’t worry, all our passenger WAVs are fitted with a wheelchair tie-down and occupant restraint system (WTORS) which complies with ISO 10542-1 and PAS 2012-1 crash test requirements.

At Allied Mobility we recommend travelling in an ISO 7176-19 compliant wheelchair.

Who is Q’Straint?

Q’Straint is a global leader in the manufacturing of wheelchair restraint systems. Their products are designed specifically to keep both the wheelchair and wheelchair user safely secured to the vehicle during travel.

Allied Mobility is the UK’s leading wheelchair accessible vehicle manufacturer and supplier – we have over 30 years of expertise in designing and converting WAVs. By working alongside Q’Straint, another trusted leader in accessibility, we combine three decades of expertise and innovation with proven safety systems, ensuring our WAVs are consistently accessible, safe and reliable for wheelchair users.

Key Safety Benefits of Q’Straint Restraints in Allied Mobility WAVs

We choose Q’Straint 200kg, 150kg and 85kg-rated restraints to be fitted in our WAVs because they are trusted worldwide and offer a range of safety benefits:

Carry up to 200kg – Whether you have a heavy manual wheelchair or powerchair, a higher weight allowance helps accommodate a wider range of wheelchair users, improving safety and making our WAVs more inclusive.
Stability – Q’Straint restraints transform your wheelchair into a static car passenger seat, reducing your risk of injury by keeping you safe, stable and secure on journeys.
Crash-tested and compliant – Q’Straint restraints are WC18 compliant meaning they undergo rigorous testing to minimise forward movement and ensure passenger safety.
Easy use – The easy-to-use system also reduces the risk of injury for wheelchair users as attachment errors are less likely. (For a refresher on how to use your restraints, visit your WAV’s user guide or call us using the number at the top of the page.)
Durability – Q’Straint restraints are known for their durability and reliability. Made from hardened steel and coated in zinc for maximum corrosion resistance, the internal mechanisms are protected from damage – ensuring consistent, reliable performance over time.

WAV Accessibility Features

Each of our wheelchair adapted vehicles are designed with accessibility and safety in mind. When you choose an Allied Mobility WAV you’ll benefit from:

A lightweight ramp in the rear of the vehicle – Say goodbye to hoists and awkward self-transfers, with a ramp you can access and travel in the vehicle from the comfort of your wheelchair!
An easy-use, electric-assist winch – Take the hard work out of entry and exit as the electric-assist winch guides you in and out of the vehicle while supporting your weight.
Lowered floor – Lowering the WAV’s floor reduces your ramp’s gradient making access easier. You can also enjoy improved headroom once in your travelling position.
Q’Straint wheelchair lap and diagonal seat belt – Feel safe and secure with your own purpose-built seat belt.

Commitment to Your Safety in Your WAV

Throughout your entire WAV journey, we’ll be here to ensure you feel safe in your vehicle with:

wheelchair user outside a home being given a home demonstration of a black wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) with rear ramp lowered, by an Allied Mobility mobility consultant.

UK-wide Free Home Demonstrations

Before ordering one of our WAVs, you’ll receive a free home demonstration of your preferred vehicle. To ensure you and those you travel with feel confident and safe using the vehicle, your dedicated mobility consultant will bring the WAV you like most to your home and show you how to use all the accessibility features. You can ask as many questions as you like and if the WAV is suitable and you like it, we’ll even help you complete all the necessary paperwork to place your order.

Book a Home Demo

Free UK-wide Delivery

For added reassurance, upon the delivery of your new or RAC-approved used wheelchair accessible vehicle, your delivery expert will provide a refresher demonstration of your accessible vehicle.

Browse new WAVs Browse used WAVs

Allied Mobility service van parked on a residential street while a technician assists a wheelchair user beside an open vehicle bonnet.

HomeStay™ Mobile Service

Keeping your WAV road-ready is made easy with a HomeStay™ mobile service. Enjoy having your vehicle serviced right outside your front door by one of our trained technicians. Even better, if you’re a Motability Scheme customer, this service is free of charge*. If you have just bought a used WAV from us, your first mobile service is included*.

Learn more

Ongoing Support

If you have any questions or concerns at any point during the lifetime of your WAV, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team of mobility advisors using the number at the top of the page.

Find the WAV That’s Made for You

Whether you are looking to hire a wheelchair accessible vehicle, buy a new or RAC-approved used WAV or lease one through the Motability Scheme, with a wide range of WAVs to choose from, our team of mobility experts are here to help find the WAV that’s made for you and your lifestyle. Get in touch today by calling the number at the top of the page.

Wheelchair user seated outside a green wheelchair accessible vehicle with rear ramp deployed, parked on a residential street with the side door open.

*HomeStay™ mobile service is available on Peugeot, Citroën, Vauxhall and Ford WAVs (excluding electric variants) on the Motability Scheme. For other manufacturers we’ll arrange your vehicle service with your local garage. If you’re a used WAV customer, your first mobile service will be free of charge and is available for all manufacturers (excluding electric variants). If you’ve purchased a new vehicle, please speak to your mobility advisor for further details.