Charity’s label campaign will help disabled people travel in safety

Oct. 8, 2012 - PRLog -- Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) will be offering labels to any companies who can prove their wheelchair accessible vehicles have an ECWVTA.M1.SH certificate.

Helen Dolphin, Director of Policy and Campaigns for DMUK, said: “There are over 60 tests for converted vehicles to achieve the ECWVTA.M1.SH certification – these include the vital crash test. The idea of the labels has been borrowed from the food industry as a quick and easy way for people to identify vehicles which are safe.”

The initiative was launched at DMUK’s annual awards with three paralympians, including triple gold medal winner in dressage Sophie Christiansen, bronze medallist and wheelchair tennis player Louise Hunt and discus English record holder Kieran Tscherniawsky.

During crash testing a dummy is strapped into a wheelchair within the car, which is then put through head-on collisions to check that both the belts and their fixings are strong enough to withstand a real-life accident and keep the wheelchair passenger secure.

The reason crash testing is so vital after conversion to a wheelchair accessible vehicle is because converting a car involves significant structural changes to the vehicle such as lowering the floor. If this is not done properly, and by experts, the car may be unsafe.
Constables Mobility, the first company to commit to using the labels, is a leading provider of wheelchair accessible cars.

David Constable, Managing Director of Constables said: “Safety is one of our top priorities, which is why we are so pleased to be the first company to start using the labels and are really hoping many will follow in our footsteps.”

Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) campaigns on behalf of all disabled motorists, passengers and Blue Badge holders. The charity represents their interests at both local and national levels, and engages with government and industry to ensure that the voice of disabled people is heard.

ENDS

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