Memorandum - NHTSA
Memorandum - NHTSA Memorandum - NHTSA
111-5 Table 111-2 Preliminary Nationwide Estimate of Wheelchair Occupants In -ed in Motor Vehicle Related Incidents By Type of Wheelchair Incident, Severity of Inju and Medical C )ositton of Case Neiss Dz Files: 1991 -95 Medic Disposition of se -~ Injury Severity Treated & Hospitalized Fatality Total Cases Percent of Total Released All Five Types Minor Injuries 1,826 .34 c 1,860 26. I Moderate Injuries 4,335 365 c 4,703 66.1 Serious Injuries 225 290 c 515 7.2 Died( 1) 0 0 43 43 0.6 Total 6,386 692 43 7,121 100.0 Yo 89.7 9.7 0.6 100.0 Securement Minor Injuries 705 0 0 705 28..3 Moderate Injuries 1,435 112 0 1,607 64.4 Serious Injuries 122 60 0 182 7.3 Died( 1) 0 0 0 0 0 Total 2,262 232 0 2,494 100 % 90.7 9.3 0 -~ 100.0 Collision with Motor Vehicle Minor Injuries 532 34 0 568 31.2 Moderate Injuries 831 120 0 95 1 52.3 Serious Injuries 103 154 0 257 14.1 Died( I ) 0 0 43 43 2.4 Total 1,468 308 43 1,819 100.0 % 80.7 16.9 2.4 100.0 Hydraulic Lift Minor Injuries 373 0 0 37 27.3 Moderate Injuries 933 17 0 950 69.5 Serious Injuries 0 43 0 43 3.1 Died( 1) 0 0 0 0 0 Total 1,306 60 0 1,366 100.0 % 95.6 4.4 0 100.0 rransferring Minor Injuries 128 0 128 12.4 Moderate Injuries 815 59 874 84.4 Serious Injuries 0 33 33 3.2 Died( 1) 0 0 0 0 rota1 % 1 943 91.1 92 8.9 1,035 100.00
111-6 The NEISS database lacks the necessary detail in order to identify the lift malfunction type/mc\de or the operator failure modes responsible for each accident. NHTSA also examined the NEIS!; Death Certificate file from July 1973 to present and identified two fatalities involving wheelcf air lifts; (1) the occupant fell from the wheelchair on a hydraulic lift while boarding a bus (1 1-21-8l), (2) the wheelchair occupant was pinned under the van's hydraulic lift (5-17-90). P, national estimate of lift related fatalities can not be extrapolated from these two cases. In the 1991-95 NEISS study, 12 wheelchair users died in motor-vehicle related incidences, but none involved a lift malfunction or falling on to/off of a ramp (e.g., 9 involved a direct collision between a wheelchair and a motor vehicle, 2 were from improper or no WC securement and 1 was from transferring to or from a motor vehicle). NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has reported two cases in 1985 and 1989 (EA85030 and PE89-144) in which accidents occurred on bus lifts due to operator and maintenance error. In the first case, the lift operator accidentally tried to stow a passive lift wi .h the disabled user still on the lift. For a passive lift, the platform is converted to steps when in 1 he stowed position. The lift user was thrown to the pavement and died from serious injuries. As a result of this accident, the passive lift manufacturer built-in a load sensing device to prevent premature stowage. In the second OD1 case, the automatic outer barrier malfunctioned and thcr wheelchair and its occupant tumbled off the lift onto a pedestrian standing next to the lift. Bo1h persons were hospitalized. The problem was caused by insufficient outer roll stop maintenance. Maintenance practices were subsequently modified to include more periodic inspection intends.
- Page 1 and 2: Subject: From: To: U.S.Department o
- Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary..........
- Page 5 and 6: s-2 The annual number of persons in
- Page 7 and 8: 11. BACKGROUND 11- 1 Guidelines per
- Page 9 and 10: 11-3 and strength; control panel le
- Page 11 and 12: 111-2 Generally, there is very litt
- Page 13: 111-4 Table 111-1 Preliminary Natio
- Page 17 and 18: 111-8 Public Transit & Paratransit
- Page 19 and 20: w-2 identifying the relevant lift c
- Page 21 and 22: IV-4 MEASURE RED FLASHING BEACON OR
- Page 23 and 24: IV-6 Acceleration is to be measured
- Page 25 and 26: IV-8 FIGURE IV-2 :i a la Y t Permir
- Page 27 and 28: IV-10 and vehicle size. This requir
- Page 29 and 30: v-12 7. Prepare test block fnction
- Page 31 and 32: IV-14 Gaps, Transitions and Opening
- Page 33 and 34: Figure m-3 Allowable transition dim
- Page 35 and 36: IV-18 sliding or being driven over
- Page 37 and 38: v-20 traveling too fast, in the for
- Page 39 and 40: WC Retention Overload Test 67.13) I
- Page 41 and 42: IV-24 The lift is raised to the flo
- Page 43 and 44: N-26 (2 square inches) applicator a
- Page 45 and 46: N-28 sufficient to adequately illum
- Page 47 and 48: IV-30 lack of follow-up training. N
- Page 49 and 50: IV-32 16. Backup Operation (S6.9) -
- Page 51 and 52: IV-34 This “looked but did not se
- Page 53 and 54: W-36 e Clearance test block (S7.1.3
- Page 55 and 56: IV-38 Structural Integrity, to iden
- Page 57 and 58: IV-40 NHTSA assumes that the large,
- Page 59 and 60: V. BENEFITS v-1 Serious injuries an
- Page 61 and 62: v-3 retention strength test, CG and
- Page 63 and 64: v-5 objective terms which should le
111-6<br />
The NEISS database lacks the necessary detail in order to identify the lift malfunction type/mc\de<br />
or the operator failure modes responsible for each accident. <strong>NHTSA</strong> also examined the NEIS!;<br />
Death Certificate file from July 1973 to present and identified two fatalities involving wheelcf air<br />
lifts; (1) the occupant fell from the wheelchair on a hydraulic lift while boarding a bus<br />
(1 1-21-8l), (2) the wheelchair occupant was pinned under the van's hydraulic lift (5-17-90). P,<br />
national estimate of lift related fatalities can not be extrapolated from these two cases. In the<br />
1991-95 NEISS study, 12 wheelchair users died in motor-vehicle related incidences, but none<br />
involved a lift malfunction or falling on to/off of a ramp (e.g., 9 involved a direct collision<br />
between a wheelchair and a motor vehicle, 2 were from improper or no WC securement and 1<br />
was from transferring to or from a motor vehicle).<br />
<strong>NHTSA</strong>'s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has reported two cases in 1985 and 1989<br />
(EA85030 and PE89-144) in which accidents occurred on bus lifts due to operator and<br />
maintenance error. In the first case, the lift operator accidentally tried to stow a passive lift wi .h<br />
the disabled user still on the lift. For a passive lift, the platform is converted to steps when in 1 he<br />
stowed position. The lift user was thrown to the pavement and died from serious injuries. As a<br />
result of this accident, the passive lift manufacturer built-in a load sensing device to prevent<br />
premature stowage. In the second OD1 case, the automatic outer barrier malfunctioned and thcr<br />
wheelchair and its occupant tumbled off the lift onto a pedestrian standing next to the lift. Bo1h<br />
persons were hospitalized. The problem was caused by insufficient outer roll stop maintenance.<br />
Maintenance practices were subsequently modified to include more periodic inspection intends.
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