News & Events
Gowrings Mobility launches Isofix child-seat compatible seating
Families with a wheelchair user as well as a baby or child can now travel all together in a car, thanks to Gowrings Mobility, the UK’s leading supplier of wheelchair passenger vehicles.
New legislation came into force last year to ensure that all babies and children use appropriate child restraints whilst travelling in a car. In response, Gowrings Mobility is the first conversion company to offer "ISOFIX", a child seat compatible system, in the rear seats of its popular Renault Kangoo wheelchair accessible conversion. This means that a wheelchair user can now travel inside the specially adapted vehicle whilst remaining in their wheelchair, alongside a baby or child seated in a child seat.
Linda Ling, Managing Director, Gowrings Mobility comments, 'When we design the conversion of our vehicles for wheelchair access, we always create as much space as possible for the wheelchair user and this usually means that we replace the original rear seats with new, streamlined, safety-tested seats. The feedback that we gathered indicated that families wanted the option of an alternative rear seat which was compatible with child and booster seats so that they could travel together as a family. We decided to offer ISOFIX, a high quality and very safe system.'
ISOFIX, which stands for 'International Standards Organisation Fix' is a new standard that makes fitting a child seat quick, simple and safe. The ISOFIX system uses latches onto the back of the car seat, which attach to fixed anchorage points in the car, effectively creating a rigid link between the two and reducing the likelihood of the child seat being installed incorrectly. The ISOFIX system, which gives better crash protection for children, has successfully passed a static seat pull test in the Gowrings Mobility Renault Kangoo for optimum safety and peace of mind. The rear seat not only works with ISOFIX child seats, but also with any child or booster seat secured using an adult seatbelt.
Linda Ling continues, 'Our continued emphasis on providing flexible, reliable and safe transport solutions means there are thousands of satisfied Gowrings Mobility customers on the road. We want disabled people to be able to lead independent lives and enjoy trips out with their families and friends. Having the option of child seat compatible seating, if they need it, allows them to do just this'.
Mrs Jones from Cheshire lives with her sister, Celia who is in a wheelchair. As she cannot transfer from her wheelchair into a car seat, the family needs a wheelchair accessible vehicle - one where Celia can simply enter via a lightweight ramp at the rear and travel whilst seated in the comfort of her wheelchair. However, Mrs Jones also needs to occasionally take her grandchildren in the car too.
Mrs Jones says, 'It does become a problem for me when my daughter calls and asks whether I can pick my grandchildren up from nursery. I was thinking about getting a second vehicle just to ferry the children about, as well as a wheelchair accessible vehicle for when I take my sister out. But the idea of paying two lots of insurance and tax, and having two cars sitting on the driveway just doesn't make sense.'
A member of the popular Gowrings Mobility demonstration team brought its wheelchair accessible Renault Kangoo 1.6 Authentique fitted with the ISOFIX seat to Mrs Jones' home to check its suitability. She was delighted to realise that the whole family could fit in easily.
Mrs Joan said, 'One of my grandchildren can sit in the front, as the airbag can be switched off. The other can sit in the seat behind, right next to Celia in her wheelchair. I feel it's safe for everyone travelling, and it means we can all be together when we need to go out. It probably does means that my daughter might be calling for favours a bit more often though!'
Ends-
Issued by:
Toorna Mitra, Marketing Communications Manager, Gowrings Mobility
Tel: 01635 574466
E: tmitra@gowringsmobility.co.uk
New legislation came into force last year to ensure that all babies and children use appropriate child restraints whilst travelling in a car. In response, Gowrings Mobility is the first conversion company to offer "ISOFIX", a child seat compatible system, in the rear seats of its popular Renault Kangoo wheelchair accessible conversion. This means that a wheelchair user can now travel inside the specially adapted vehicle whilst remaining in their wheelchair, alongside a baby or child seated in a child seat.
Linda Ling, Managing Director, Gowrings Mobility comments, 'When we design the conversion of our vehicles for wheelchair access, we always create as much space as possible for the wheelchair user and this usually means that we replace the original rear seats with new, streamlined, safety-tested seats. The feedback that we gathered indicated that families wanted the option of an alternative rear seat which was compatible with child and booster seats so that they could travel together as a family. We decided to offer ISOFIX, a high quality and very safe system.'
ISOFIX, which stands for 'International Standards Organisation Fix' is a new standard that makes fitting a child seat quick, simple and safe. The ISOFIX system uses latches onto the back of the car seat, which attach to fixed anchorage points in the car, effectively creating a rigid link between the two and reducing the likelihood of the child seat being installed incorrectly. The ISOFIX system, which gives better crash protection for children, has successfully passed a static seat pull test in the Gowrings Mobility Renault Kangoo for optimum safety and peace of mind. The rear seat not only works with ISOFIX child seats, but also with any child or booster seat secured using an adult seatbelt.
Linda Ling continues, 'Our continued emphasis on providing flexible, reliable and safe transport solutions means there are thousands of satisfied Gowrings Mobility customers on the road. We want disabled people to be able to lead independent lives and enjoy trips out with their families and friends. Having the option of child seat compatible seating, if they need it, allows them to do just this'.
Mrs Jones from Cheshire lives with her sister, Celia who is in a wheelchair. As she cannot transfer from her wheelchair into a car seat, the family needs a wheelchair accessible vehicle - one where Celia can simply enter via a lightweight ramp at the rear and travel whilst seated in the comfort of her wheelchair. However, Mrs Jones also needs to occasionally take her grandchildren in the car too.
Mrs Jones says, 'It does become a problem for me when my daughter calls and asks whether I can pick my grandchildren up from nursery. I was thinking about getting a second vehicle just to ferry the children about, as well as a wheelchair accessible vehicle for when I take my sister out. But the idea of paying two lots of insurance and tax, and having two cars sitting on the driveway just doesn't make sense.'
A member of the popular Gowrings Mobility demonstration team brought its wheelchair accessible Renault Kangoo 1.6 Authentique fitted with the ISOFIX seat to Mrs Jones' home to check its suitability. She was delighted to realise that the whole family could fit in easily.
Mrs Joan said, 'One of my grandchildren can sit in the front, as the airbag can be switched off. The other can sit in the seat behind, right next to Celia in her wheelchair. I feel it's safe for everyone travelling, and it means we can all be together when we need to go out. It probably does means that my daughter might be calling for favours a bit more often though!'
Ends-
Issued by:
Toorna Mitra, Marketing Communications Manager, Gowrings Mobility
Tel: 01635 574466
E: tmitra@gowringsmobility.co.uk
