News & Events
WAVCA wins fight to save wheelchair accessible vehicle market
The UK wheelchair accessible vehicle industry was jubilant today, as it finally won the battle against proposed European legislation, which was set to threaten this much-needed industry and send prices of specialist cars for disabled people in the UK soaring.
A wheelchair accessible vehicle is where a standard car has been structurally converted to allow a person with severe mobility impairment to enter a vehicle in their wheelchair, and remain in their chair whilst travelling as a passenger and driven by a carer. Annual volumes of wheelchair accessible vehicles for the entire UK industry stand at approximately 8,000 vehicles, made up of several different models. The current UK national small series scheme (Low Volume Type Approval) allows converters to build up to 500 of any model type.
The proposed legislation, Framework Directive 70/156/EEC, was inadvertently set to limit production of wheelchair accessible vehicles to a pitifully low 75, dramatically reducing capacity, making production unviable, and ultimately forcing many companies out of business. The only alternative was to take on huge extra costs to meet new EU small volume requirements. Either option would have meant much increased prices for customers.
The Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Converters Association (WAVCA) has spent the last two years fighting to amend the proposed legislation. The industry body, incorporating 12 specialist converters, was established in 1999 by a founder group of 5 leading converters to represent the needs of the industry for improved standards and of the wheelchair user travelling as a passenger.
Linda Ling, Managing Director of founding member, Gowrings Mobility, and Chair of WAVCA comments, "We were determined that this legislation would not hinder the last 10 years' work which have culminated in significantly lowering costs of these specialist vehicles to customers. In 1991, for example, a basic converted car would cost about £18,000 whereas nowadays, prices start at under £13,000. When we were told about the volume limitations, we were horrified that neither WAVCA nor any disabled people had been consulted, and it seemed that our needs and concerns were being swept aside."
Mrs Ling continues, "The people that use these types of vehicles are the most severely disabled with a lack of mobility that makes it impossible for them to get out of their wheelchairs into a standard car. They absolutely rely on specially adapted transport to get out of the house, go shopping, attend hospital appointments, and visit friends and family - all the vital elements of a happy life. I have worked in this marketplace for over 20 years and I was absolutely determined that the industry that supports it with essential accessible products would not be destroyed."
Following an extensive lobbying and publicity campaign in the UK, the European Commission agreed to meet with WAVCA and negotiate terms. Working with a technical team consisting of fellow WAVCA member Rod Brotherwood and Frank Riddle, a Type Approval Consultant at Davie-Riddle Associates, Linda Ling consulted with the Department for Transport, the legislation 'Rapporteur' Malcolm Harbour MEP and Dr Reinhardt Schulte-Braucks at the European Commission to define an appropriate type approval scheme for wheelchair accessible vehicles.
Linda Ling said, "These vehicles are crucially important to wheelchair users who cannot use ordinary cars. Once the Commission really understood the negative impact of the original proposals on our industry, they worked really hard with us to ensure recognition for the WAV sector and an appropriate Type Approval scheme that recognises the wheelchair user seating position."
Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles as a Special Category
Like ambulances and hearses, the wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) has now been recognised as a category in its own right and will have its own set of safety testing specifications. This also means the volume limitations will no longer apply to these products, and therefore UK conversion companies no longer face the threat of being forced out of business. It will also be much easier to trade with other European member states.
Wheelchair Position
The wheelchair position in a car, which has never been recognised before as a seated position, will now have its own set of test criteria. The European Commission has agreed to continue work in this area once the legislation has passed.
Just after the final vote was cast at the European Parliament, Malcolm Harbour MEP and Linda Ling spoke out about the result beside a converted wheelchair accessible Renault Kangoo, parked next to the Parliament building.
Linda Ling said, "With the support of the Commission and the Parliament, we have not only managed to avoid punitive volume restrictions for the industry, but we have gone many steps further in providing a platform for future developments of purpose-designed wheelchair accessible vehicle conversions. A critical factor in this development will be collaboration with wheelchair manufacturers to ensure compatibility with in-vehicle use. It also means that vehicle registration, MOT and insurance for these vehicles will also become much more straightforward."
MEP Malcolm Harbour said, "This is a fantastic result for the disabled consumer and for the manufacturers of these vehicles. We have given a boost to this important industry whilst ensuring that the safety of these vehicles is in no way compromised."
Issued by:
Toorna Mitra, Press Officer, WAVCA
Tel: 01635 574466
E: tmitra@gowringsmobility.co.uk
M: 07787 104087
WAVCA, the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Converters' Association, is the industry trade association for companies who manufacture and sell motor vehicles converted to be used by a wheelchair passenger. Its aim include to improve the quality and safety of wheelchair carrying vehicles and to enhance standards of customer care, to lobby for meaningful legislation for wheelchair passenger vehicles and to improve customer awareness of the technical standards issues. See www.wavca.org.uk for more information.
A wheelchair accessible vehicle is where a standard car has been structurally converted to allow a person with severe mobility impairment to enter a vehicle in their wheelchair, and remain in their chair whilst travelling as a passenger and driven by a carer. Annual volumes of wheelchair accessible vehicles for the entire UK industry stand at approximately 8,000 vehicles, made up of several different models. The current UK national small series scheme (Low Volume Type Approval) allows converters to build up to 500 of any model type.
The proposed legislation, Framework Directive 70/156/EEC, was inadvertently set to limit production of wheelchair accessible vehicles to a pitifully low 75, dramatically reducing capacity, making production unviable, and ultimately forcing many companies out of business. The only alternative was to take on huge extra costs to meet new EU small volume requirements. Either option would have meant much increased prices for customers.
The Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Converters Association (WAVCA) has spent the last two years fighting to amend the proposed legislation. The industry body, incorporating 12 specialist converters, was established in 1999 by a founder group of 5 leading converters to represent the needs of the industry for improved standards and of the wheelchair user travelling as a passenger.
Linda Ling, Managing Director of founding member, Gowrings Mobility, and Chair of WAVCA comments, "We were determined that this legislation would not hinder the last 10 years' work which have culminated in significantly lowering costs of these specialist vehicles to customers. In 1991, for example, a basic converted car would cost about £18,000 whereas nowadays, prices start at under £13,000. When we were told about the volume limitations, we were horrified that neither WAVCA nor any disabled people had been consulted, and it seemed that our needs and concerns were being swept aside."
Mrs Ling continues, "The people that use these types of vehicles are the most severely disabled with a lack of mobility that makes it impossible for them to get out of their wheelchairs into a standard car. They absolutely rely on specially adapted transport to get out of the house, go shopping, attend hospital appointments, and visit friends and family - all the vital elements of a happy life. I have worked in this marketplace for over 20 years and I was absolutely determined that the industry that supports it with essential accessible products would not be destroyed."
Following an extensive lobbying and publicity campaign in the UK, the European Commission agreed to meet with WAVCA and negotiate terms. Working with a technical team consisting of fellow WAVCA member Rod Brotherwood and Frank Riddle, a Type Approval Consultant at Davie-Riddle Associates, Linda Ling consulted with the Department for Transport, the legislation 'Rapporteur' Malcolm Harbour MEP and Dr Reinhardt Schulte-Braucks at the European Commission to define an appropriate type approval scheme for wheelchair accessible vehicles.
Linda Ling said, "These vehicles are crucially important to wheelchair users who cannot use ordinary cars. Once the Commission really understood the negative impact of the original proposals on our industry, they worked really hard with us to ensure recognition for the WAV sector and an appropriate Type Approval scheme that recognises the wheelchair user seating position."
Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles as a Special Category
Like ambulances and hearses, the wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) has now been recognised as a category in its own right and will have its own set of safety testing specifications. This also means the volume limitations will no longer apply to these products, and therefore UK conversion companies no longer face the threat of being forced out of business. It will also be much easier to trade with other European member states.
Wheelchair Position
The wheelchair position in a car, which has never been recognised before as a seated position, will now have its own set of test criteria. The European Commission has agreed to continue work in this area once the legislation has passed.
Just after the final vote was cast at the European Parliament, Malcolm Harbour MEP and Linda Ling spoke out about the result beside a converted wheelchair accessible Renault Kangoo, parked next to the Parliament building.
Linda Ling said, "With the support of the Commission and the Parliament, we have not only managed to avoid punitive volume restrictions for the industry, but we have gone many steps further in providing a platform for future developments of purpose-designed wheelchair accessible vehicle conversions. A critical factor in this development will be collaboration with wheelchair manufacturers to ensure compatibility with in-vehicle use. It also means that vehicle registration, MOT and insurance for these vehicles will also become much more straightforward."
MEP Malcolm Harbour said, "This is a fantastic result for the disabled consumer and for the manufacturers of these vehicles. We have given a boost to this important industry whilst ensuring that the safety of these vehicles is in no way compromised."
Issued by:
Toorna Mitra, Press Officer, WAVCA
Tel: 01635 574466
E: tmitra@gowringsmobility.co.uk
M: 07787 104087
WAVCA, the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Converters' Association, is the industry trade association for companies who manufacture and sell motor vehicles converted to be used by a wheelchair passenger. Its aim include to improve the quality and safety of wheelchair carrying vehicles and to enhance standards of customer care, to lobby for meaningful legislation for wheelchair passenger vehicles and to improve customer awareness of the technical standards issues. See www.wavca.org.uk for more information.
