Office Star to Launch Safety Campaign at The Mobility Roadshow

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• Publié par: disabled-motoring-uk-and-constables-mobility
• Nombre de lectures: 15
• Langue: English

Extrait

Office Star to Launch Safety Campaign at The

Mobility Roadshow

PR Newswire

NORWICH, England, June 19, 2012

NORWICH, England

,

June 19, 2012

/PRNewswire/ --

A high-profile disabled actress and disability campaigner has put her name to a

campaign to improve the safety of wheelchair users on the road.

Julie Fernandez disabled star of The Office will be at Constables Mobility's stand

(TD8) at The Mobility Roadshow to launch the sled-testing e-petition being run

by Disabled Motoring UK.

Disabled Motoring UK's campaign, which is supported by Constables Mobility

and a number of other organisations, highlights the need for all converted

vehicles to be sled tested and wants a change in legislation that will improve

the safety of wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs).

It urges buyers of converted cars to demand sled-testing certificates - the only

way to check a vehicle is as safe as possible. The campaign will also seek to

change legislation so only 'sled tested' vehicles can be sold.

Julie Fernandez, who starred alongside Ricky Gervais in BBC TV series The

Office, said: "I'm proud to be getting behind this campaign. When I first heard

about it, I couldn't and still can't believe that sled testing isn't already a

requirement for all converted vehicles. I'm really hoping that we raise

awareness of the issue and that the e-petition receives enough signatures for

the campaign to be discussed by the government."

Helen Dolphin, Director of Policy and Campaigns, for Disabled Motoring UK said:

"We are really pleased to have Julie on board with our campaign."

The campaign is also being supported by ex-Eastenders' actor David Proud,

vehicle converters: Constables Mobility; Lateral; Concept V1, disability press:

Ability Needs and Disability Magazine, and Sarah Ismail, disabled rights writer,

blogger and campaigner.

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.

DMUK is the only UK charity that campaigns on behalf of disabled people in this

way. Without DMUK there would be no Blue Badge scheme, no Motability cars,

and no mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to help disabled

people defray some of the extra travel and transport costs that they incur.

Constables Mobility is one of the UK's leading reputable manufacturers and

suppliers of rear access Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles. Renowned for their

quality British engineering and innovation, Constables builds wheelchair

accessible vehicles to the highest standards, offering the family and wheelchair

passenger true freedom, independence, good accessibility and exceptional user

comfort.

Notes to editors:

What is sled testing?

The sled test is similar to the crash testing that many of us have seen on TV a

dummy is strapped into a wheelchair in the body of 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.

Sled testing is the only means of proving that the cell (i.e. the conversion

anchorage points together with the belts and tie-downs) is safe.

The industry has witnessed a 50 per cent failure rate with the wheelchair and

occupant sled test, even when the conversion has previously been pull-tested

and the belts and tie-downs have been tested separately by the belt

manufacturer. It is when the constituent parts are put together as a complete

system that they fail.

Why is testing important?

Converting a WAV involves major changes so the original tests may no longer apply

In a WAV, the wheelchair is the seat but it wasn't there when the original car was tested

Testing is needed to check both the fixings and the belts work properly in the event of a

crash

Sled testing is the only test that actively checks whether the WAV is able to keep the

wheelchair passenger secure in a real-life accident.

How do people make sure the vehicle they are buying is

safe for the driver and wheelchair user?

Converting a car to make it wheelchair accessible is a complex process

involving 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.

The simple way to check whether a new car meets these standards is to ask to

see its certification. Sled tested WAVs will have an ECWVTA.M1 certificate. But

do check that the certificate is for the conversion, not the original car.

Julie Fernandez will be at Constables Mobility's stand (TD8) on

Thursday 21

st

at

11.30am

for the launch and a photocall. Pictures will

be available on request after the date.

For more information or interview requests contact Helen Dolphin Director of

Policy and Campaigns Disabled Motoring UK [e-mail].

[phone] or e-mail or Suzi Christie at Blueberry PR (for Constables

Mobility) on [phone] or e-mail [e-mail]

You can sign the e-petition by visiting

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/34003

Learn more about the campaign at http://www.sledtesting.co.uk/