Transporting wheelchair passengers

Helping passengers in and out of the vehicle

Drivers must give reasonable help to a person to get them into and out of the vehicle. Always ask how you can assist your passenger with their journey. Be respectful and treat passengers with a disability as you would treat any other passenger, that is fairly and with dignity.

For example you can offer to push, but should not insist on pushing a passenger’s wheelchair onto a hoist or up a ramp. Electric and manual wheelchairs are generally suitable to be transported in a WAV with the person seated.

Eligible WAV passengers will have ‘Wheelchair/Scooter’ embossed on their MPTP card. If passengers do not have this, drivers may choose to turn the meter on when loading or unloading the passenger. 

Who can be transported in a WAV?

Passengers cannot be seated in a mobility scooter, a ‘Princess’ reclining chair, and other ‘high-care’ aids while riding in a WAV, as it is not safe.

Always remember to...

• ask for permission prior to moving a passenger in a wheelchair
• ask how you can assist them into and out of the vehicle
• allow a passenger with an assistance animal to bring the animal into the passenger area of the vehicle
• ensure the person is safe and ready before lifting them into position when using a rear hydraulic lifter
• store any mobility aid safely and where it will not interfere with the movement of passengers into or out of the vehicle
• offer to assist to load and unload any mobility aids
• help passengers take any mobility aid, luggage or other items into and out of the vehicle.

Loading a passenger into a WAV using a hoist

The lifting equipment attached to the WAV must only be used by a W-endorsed driver.

Depending on the wheelchair user’s preference, wheelchairs may be manoeuvred – and their
brakes applied and released – by either the WAV driver or the wheelchair user. In the case of an
electric wheelchair, switching off the control box should be considered equivalent to applying brakes.

Never touch the joystick of a passenger’s wheelchair – this control can be sensitive and could cause sudden unexpected movement and never allow a passenger to stand on the hoist without being seated in a wheelchair or on a scooter.

It is the responsibility of the WAV driver to ensure that all of the following steps are followed regardless of whom is operating the wheelchair throughout the loading process.

1. Ensure the vehicle is legally parked in a safe place with enough loading room.
2. Ask permission to touch the wheelchair or get agreement from the wheelchair user as to whom will position the wheelchair and apply the brakes.
3. The wheelchair is positioned safely out of the way of the hoist.
4. Brakes are applied on the wheelchair.
5. The rear door of the vehicle is open and the hoist is safely lowered.
6. Brakes are released on the wheelchair.
7. The wheelchair is positioned safely on the hoist platform with the wheelchair facing forward (towards the front of the vehicle).
8. The brakes are applied on the wheelchair and another check is made to ensure the wheelchair cannot accidentally roll forward or backward.
9. Ensure the passenger is safe and ready with their legs and feet out of danger, before using the hoist to raise the wheel chair to the level of the floor of the vehicle.
10. Raise the hoist correctly with one hand on the wheelchair and the other on the controller.
11. Ensure the hoist platform is level with the floor of the WAV before moving the wheelchair into the WAV.
12. Brakes are released on the wheelchair.
13. The wheelchair is moved into the correct position.
14. Brakes are applied on the wheelchair.
15. Lock the two front anchorage restraints into the floor tracks. Note that this may be done before the passenger is hoisted into the WAV.
16. Connect the two front anchorage restraints to two secure points on the wheelchair.
17. Lock the two rear anchorage restraints into the floor tracks.
18. Connect the two rear anchorage restraints to two secure points on the wheelchair.
19. Brakes are released on the wheelchair.
20. Tighten the rear anchorage restraints using the ratchet mechanism on each restraint.
21. Brakes are released on the wheelchair.
22. Attach and fit the wheelchair occupant restraint fittings (seatbelt) correctly – not across the throat or the pelvis.
23. Ask if the passenger needs any further assistance and if they are comfortable before starting the trip.

Unloading a passenger using a hoist

As for loading the passenger, the lifting equipment attached to the WAV must only be used by the driver. Check with the wheelchair user what their preference is regarding operating the wheelchair during the unloading process.

1. Legally park the vehicle in a safe place and with enough room to unload.
2. Open the rear door of the vehicle.
3. Lower the hoist safely from being stowed upright to a position level with the vehicle floor.
4. Release the passenger from the wheelchair occupant restraint fittings (seatbelt).
5. Release the two rear anchorage restraints from the wheelchair.
6. Release the two front anchorage restraints from the wheelchair.
7.  Release the brakes on the wheelchair.
8. Slowly position the wheelchair safely on the hoist platform.
9. Apply the brakes on the wheelchair.
10. Lower the hoist to ground level correctly with one hand on the wheelchair and the other on the controller.
11. Release the brakes on the wheelchair.
12. Move the wheelchair off the hoist or inform the passenger once it is safe to reverse out from the hoist.
13. Position the wheelchair safely and apply the brakes.

Using a wheelchair ramp to load a passenger

It is the responsibility of the WAV driver to ensure that all of the following steps are followed regardless of who is operating the wheelchair throughout the loading process.

1. Legally park the vehicle in a safe place with enough loading room.
2. Ask permission to touch the wheelchair.
3. Position the wheelchair safely out of the way of the ramp.
4. Apply the brakes on the wheelchair.
5. Open the rear wheelchair entry door.
6. Unlock and position the ramp for safe loading.
7. Release the brakes on the wheelchair.
8. Position the wheelchair safely at the bottom of the ramp.
9. Apply the brakes on the wheelchair
10. Unlock the front restraints using the lock switch.
11. Connect the two front restraints to two secure points on the wheelchair.
12. Release the brakes on the wheelchair.
13. Push the wheelchair smoothly into the vehicle with both hands on the wheelchair.
14. Position the wheelchair correctly.
15. Lock the two front restraints with the lock switch.
16. Lock the two rear anchorage restraints into the floor tracks/points.
17. Connect the two rear anchorage restraints to two secure points on the wheelchair.
18. Release the brakes on the wheelchair.
19. Tighten the two rear anchorage restraints using the ratchet mechanism on each restraint.
20. Apply the brakes on the wheelchair.
21. Attach and fit the wheelchair occupant restraint fittings (seatbelt) correctly – not across the throat or the pelvis.
22. Ask if the passenger needs any further assistance and if they are comfortable.
23. Position and lock the ramp in the vehicle.
24. Close the rear wheelchair entry door.

Using a wheelchair ramp to unload a passenger

The equipment attached to the WAV must only be used by the driver. The same points regarding operation of the wheelchair in the loading process detailed in the loading section of this page also apply for unloading.

Transporting passengers with a mobility scooter

Passengers are not allowed to remain seated on mobility scooters during their journey in a WAV.
A passenger who uses a mobility scooter must be seated in a conventional passenger seat for the duration of the journey and wear the seatbelt provided for that position.

The scooter must be fitted with all restraints to prevent movement of the scooter during the journey. A scooter must only be loaded if it can be safely loaded, carried and adequately secured using approved restraints.

Transporting passengers with high-care mobility aids

Under no circumstances is it safe to transport passengers while they remain seated in high-care mobility aids as doing so puts their safety, and the safety of other occupants of the vehicle, at risk.

Mobility aids like the ‘Princess’, ‘Duchess’ and ‘Tub’ chairs/beds lack the structural integrity to withstand a minor impact and, in the event of an accident, their tilt-lock mechanism or the frame could fail, exposing the occupant to serious injury. As these aids carry the occupant in a reclined position, the occupant cannot be properly restrained. There is a danger they could slip under the restraint, endangering themselves and others.

High-care mobility aids do not meet Australian design and construction standards—and manufacturers advise that they are not designed to be carried in vehicles while the passenger is in them.

Any driver who allows a passenger to travel in one of these mobility aids in their vehicle is not only risking their own physical safety, but also their driver accreditation. Drivers are also opening themselves up to potential legal liability if the passenger is injured.