Vehicle and Equipment
Why it matters: A safe trip starts before you turn the key. As a WAV driver, you play a key role in keeping your vehicle safe by checking for faults and reporting issues promptly.
While the vehicle owner is responsible for maintaining the vehicle and equipment, the driver is responsible for ensuring it is safe to operate before each trip.
Identifying and reporting problems early helps prevent breakdowns, protects passengers, and supports compliance with your safety duties.
Common risks:
- Hoist or ramp failure due to poor maintenance or missed checks.
- Hoist roll stops that fail to deploy or lock properly, increasing the risk of a wheelchair rolling off the hoist platform during loading or unloading.
- Frayed restraints or belts that could fail in a sudden stop or crash.
- Retractable restraints that do not retract fully, leaving excess slack that can allow the wheelchair to shift during travel.
- Loose or damaged anchor points that allow wheelchairs to move during travel.
- Leaking fluids, unsecured batteries, or damaged wiring that could cause a fire or breakdown.
- Worn tyres or faulty brakes affecting control or stopping distance.
Driver Pre-Start Check
Before your first trip each day, take a few minutes to confirm the vehicle and all accessible equipment are safe to use.
Check the following:
- Exterior: Tyres, lights, mirrors, windscreen, wipers.
- Vehicle systems: Brakes, horn, seatbelts, warning lights, cameras.
- Hoist and ramp: Operate through a full cycle to check for smooth operation and unusual noises.
- Restraints and seatbelts: Look for fraying, twisting, or corrosion on fittings.
- Anchor points and flooring: Confirm they’re secure and not loose or rusted.
- Electricals: Ensure hoist and lighting cables are secure and undamaged.
- Cleanliness: Keep the passenger area dry and free from clutter.
- Paperwork: Confirm your driver accreditation, registration, and W-endorsement are current.
- Fire extinguisher: Ensure a securely mounted, fully maintained fire extinguisher (minimum 20B rating) is present and easily accessible.
If you find a fault or something doesn’t feel right:
- Do not operate the vehicle if it is unsafe.
- Report the issue immediately to the vehicle owner or your Booking Service Provider (BSP).
- Record the fault in the vehicle log or reporting system.
Owner Responsibilities
Vehicle owners are responsible for ensuring regular servicing, maintenance, and repairs are carried out according to manufacturer and legal requirements.
Drivers support this by completing and reporting daily checks so faults can be fixed promptly.
Safety tip: Taking five minutes for a pre-start check protects your safety, your passengers’ safety, and your accreditation. Never assume a vehicle that was safe yesterday is safe today.
Hoist operation
Why it Matters: Hoists are one of the most common sources of injury in WAV passenger transport. Both passengers and drivers can be seriously injured if the hoist fails, is overloaded, or is used incorrectly.
A WAV hoist allows passengers using wheelchairs or mobility aids to be raised safely from the ground into the vehicle.
Only trained W-endorsed drivers are permitted to use a WAV hoist or lift. Following safe procedures protects:
- The passenger’s safety, comfort, and dignity.
- The driver’s own health and safety.
- The reliability and compliance of your WAV service.
Common Risks:
- Hoist failure or collapse due to mechanical fault, poor maintenance, or overload.
- Passenger or driver falls from incorrect positioning or uneven platforms.
- Entrapment or crushing injuries from moving parts or unstable wheelchairs.
- Overloading beyond the hoist’s rated capacity (combined passenger + mobility aid weight).
- Passenger anxiety or confusion leading to sudden movements or unsafe actions.
- Driver error from rushing, distraction, or inadequate communication.
- Electrical or hydraulic faults causing jerky or unsafe motion.
Ways to Stay Safe:
- Check the hoist before use – look for leaks, damage, or jerky motion.
- Know the weight limit (passenger + wheelchair). Don’t use it if you think it’s overloaded.
- Follow safe procedures, every time (loading, securing and unloading passengers in wheelchairs procedure).
- Level the platform fully with the vehicle floor before moving the passenger.
- Stay with the passenger at all times — never leave them unattended on the hoist.
- Keep one hand on the wheelchair while loading or unloading.
- Apply brakes whenever the wheelchair isn’t moving, and switch off powered chairs.
- Never stand on a moving hoist.
- Communicate clearly — explain each step and check the passenger’s comfort.
- Stop immediately if anything feels unsafe or the hoist doesn’t move smoothly.
- Report faults immediately and don’t use unsafe equipment.
- Environmental factors such as wet or slippery surfaces on the hoist platform can reduce grip or stability.
Note: Most passengers will need to reverse their mobility device onto the hoist to exit the vehicle, which can be challenging as they may not see behind them. Treat this step with the same caution as lifting the passenger — it’s highly risky and requires full attention.
Safety Tip: Take your time, follow every step, and stay alert. Your calm, careful actions keep passengers safe.
Restraints and Seatbelts
Correct use of restraints and seatbelts is essential for passenger and driver safety. Sudden braking, turning, or swerving can occur on any journey. Improperly secured wheelchairs or passengers can shift or tip, causing serious injury or death, even at low speeds.
Only the driver is responsible for correctly fitting all restraints and seatbelts. Passengers or carers, while well-intentioned, should not adjust any equipment.
Proper securement:
- Keeps the passenger safe and comfortable.
- Protects the driver and others in the vehicle.
Common Risks:
- Wheelchair movement: shifting, tipping, or sliding during sudden manoeuvres, often caused by incorrect restraint configuration, improper anchor points, or unsecured floor restraints.
- Passenger injury or ejection: from poorly fitted seatbelts or harnesses, or passengers moving or unfastening restraints during the journey.
- Entrapment or discomfort: loose, twisted, or incorrectly positioned restraints can pinch or restrict passengers.
- Equipment failure: worn, frayed, torn, or damaged straps, clips, buckles, or floor restraints can fail unexpectedly.
- Environmental factors: wet, slippery, or contaminated restraint straps can reduce grip or stability.
Ways to Stay Safe:
Check equipment condition before every journey: inspect straps, buckles, clips, and floor restraints for frays, tears, damage, or malfunction.
Note: Report any faults immediately, do not use equipment that is worn or damaged.
Use all restraint points correctly: secure all four wheelchair floor restraints (two front, two rear) and ensure correct configuration (front splayed outward, rear parallel) and apply appropriate tension so the wheelchair is firmly anchored.
Fit seatbelts properly:
- Lap belt low across the passenger’s waist.
- Shoulder strap between neck and shoulder (never under the armpit).
- Remove slack and tighten all straps once secured.
Important: A wheelchair’s own seatbelt is not designed to restrain passengers in a crash. Always secure the passenger with the vehicle’s seatbelt, in addition to restraining the wheelchair.
Note: Consider using a suitable 4 point harness that meets Australian Design Rule Standards if a standard seatbelt does not fit the passenger safely or comfortably.
Passenger-specific adjustments: Consider passenger size, mobility device type, and comfort while securing belts, always asking for consent before assisting.
Support passenger safety and autonomy: Encourage passengers to remain safely restrained during the journey. Offer clear instructions and respect their choices while ensuring safety.
Monitor environmental factors: Keep straps dry and clean and ensure the wheelchair base is stable and free of debris.
Stop and reassess if anything feels unsafe: Never rush the securement process.
Communicate respectfully with passengers: Explain each step and reassure them to maintain comfort and confidence.
Unsafe Driving Practices and Driver Alertness
Maintaining full attention while driving is essential to ensure the safety and comfort of WAV passengers. Passengers—especially those in wheelchairs—can be injured or unsettled if the driver accelerates, brakes, or turns abruptly, or becomes distracted. Even brief distractions, such as checking a device or multitasking with navigation or passenger care, can have serious consequences. At 50 km/h, looking away for just two seconds means travelling the length of a cricket pitch without watching the road – and doubles the chance of a crash.
Common Risks:
Passenger discomfort or injury: Sudden acceleration, braking, or sharp cornering can cause passengers to shift, tip, or slide, particularly those in wheelchairs.
Loss of vehicle control and distraction-related incidents: Distractions such as mobile phones, eating, adjusting controls, or multitasking with navigation, communicating with passengers or providing passenger assistance can slower reaction times, make it difficult to maintain lane position or a safe speed, and significantly increase the likelihood of a collision.
Reduced passenger confidence: Erratic, aggressive or unpredictable driving may make passengers feel unsafe or anxious.
Fatigue or mental overload: Long shifts or multitasking with navigation, communicating with passengers or passenger care can reduce alertness and reaction time.
Unsafe pick-up or drop-off: Parking in unsuitable locations, on steep or uneven terrain, or in poor visibility can create hazards for passengers entering or exiting the vehicle.
Ways to Stay Safe:
These practices should be followed alongside all applicable Road Rules to ensure safe and compliant driving. Visit Transport Victoria for more information on Victorian road rules.
Prepare before you drive: Set navigation, mirrors, seat position, climate and music controls, and secure loose items before moving off so adjustments aren’t needed while driving.
Stay fully focused on driving: Keep your eyes and attention on the road at all times. Do not hold or operate a mobile phone or portable device while driving.
Note: If a call or message is required, pull over safely and park before making or receiving it.
Use hands-free or mounted devices only if legally permitted: Ensure use does not require interaction while moving and does not compromise safe driving.
Drive smoothly and predictably:
- Accelerate and brake gradually
- Slow down before corners, intersections, and roundabouts
- Take turns gently to minimise passenger movement
- Maintain a safe following distance
Drive to the conditions to ensure passenger comfort: Reduce speed over bumps, raised crossings, uneven or wet surfaces, and train or tram tracks.
Avoid aggressive or impatient driving: Do not tailgate (maintain a safe following distance), swerve, or make sudden lane changes.
Manage fatigue and mental load: Take regular breaks on long shifts, avoid driving continuously for more than 2 hours at a time, and avoid multitasking whilst driving.
Park safely when picking up or dropping off passengers: Ensure the vehicle is legally parked in a safe location (including designated disability parking, clearways, or loading zones where permitted), on as level a surface as possible, positioned to allow ramps or hoists to operate safely, and is visible to other road users.
Ensure safe access to and from the vehicle: Park in locations that allow passengers to board and disembark safely, avoiding situations where they need to cross traffic or navigate hazardous surfaces.
Position passengers thoughtfully: Where possible, secure passengers between the vehicle’s axles to reduce movement and vibration and ask if they have a preferred seating location.
Check in with passengers: Ask if they are comfortable and adjust driving if needed, but keep conversations brief and never divert attention from the road with non-urgent needs while moving. If a passenger requires help, pull over first.
Stop and reassess if unsafe conditions arise: Do not continue driving if a distraction or hazard prevents safe driving.
Communicate calmly and clearly: Keep conversations brief and reassuring to maintain focus and passenger confidence.
Safety Tip: Every moment of focus counts — drive attentively, smoothly, and with care to keep passengers safe and comfortable.
Protecting your own safety
As a WAV driver, your safety is just as important as your passenger’s. Many injuries occur when loading or unloading wheelchairs, using ramps or hoists, or handling equipment. Following safe manual handling practices and staying alert to your surroundings helps prevent strains, slips, and falls.
Manual handling safety:
- Avoid lifting heavy equipment or wheelchairs by yourself — use the hoist or ask for assistance when needed.
- Keep your back straight and bend at the knees when securing restraints or adjusting equipment.
- Position yourself close to the task to reduce reaching or twisting.
Preventing slips, trips and falls:
- Wear enclosed, non-slip footwear.
- Use a rated portable step stool to step onto the hoist. Always keep three points of contact (two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand). Never jump or climb unsafely.
- Keep the vehicle area, ramp, and hoist, free from clutter, water, or oil.
- Be cautious on uneven ground or sloped surfaces when operating the hoist or moving a wheelchair.
- Always apply the handbrake and ensure the hoist is fully lowered before loading or unloading.
General tips:
- Take your time — rushing increases risk.
- Report faulty equipment immediately.
- If a situation feels unsafe, stop and reassess before continuing.