Special Accommodations Made In Handicap Transport Vans And Why These Vans Are A Better Option
Handicap transportation, which usually comes in the form of a van, is a better option for those with physical challenges than any other mode of transportation. The vans are equipped with special accommodations that take physical challenges into consideration. Here are those special accommodations — and why these vans are a better option for people with physical challenges.
No Seats and All Room for Wheelchairs
Most of these transport vehicles do not have any bench seats in the back like most other vans do. Instead, the seats have been removed to make room for wheelchairs. Approximately four or five wheelchairs can be rolled into this space for transport. The driver can pick up at least that many passengers and drop each of them at their specified destinations.
If a Wheelchair Is Not in the Picture...
Some clients with physical challenges are quite mobile on their legs, so they do not need a wheelchair. When this is the case, the front passenger seat is available for these clients. If more than one ambulatory passenger needs to ride, the driver may need to drop off the first ambulatory passenger before picking up the next.
Special Seat Belts for All
All of the handicap transport vehicles in use today are equipped with special seat belts and safety harnesses. Not only do passengers have a seat belt that goes across their chests and latches to a hook on the floor, but there are also no less than five wheelchair restraints to help the wheelchairs remain motionless and remain where they sit in the event of an accident.
Head Room for the Driver
As you might imagine, the driver is the one that stands up in the middle of these vehicles and works to buckle everything and everybody in place. To make sure he/she is not banging his/her head on the roof of the transport van, and that he/she does not have to painfully stoop to do this work, these vehicles are equipped with higher than normal ceilings. You can tell from outside the vehicle that it is a handicap vehicle just by the height of the roof.
Why These Vans Are a Better Option for People With Physical Challenges
With all of the extra safety measures built in, these vehicles are ideal for transporting special needs clients/consumers. Modified vehicles of other types may be used, but if you are operating a business that caters to this sort of niche transportation, you need the bigger vehicles and special accommodations. These vehicles guarantee client and consumer safety from one location to the next.