Vehicle requirements

WAVs must meet a range of important requirements to ensure the safety of passengers.

It’s the responsibility of the vehicle owner and the driver to ensure:

  • each vehicle is equipped with the necessary restraint systems to safely secure each wheelchair and its occupant
  • the vehicle has a functioning air conditioner/heater and
  • all the equipment is maintained in good working order.

These requirements are included in the Determination of Specifications for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles PDF, 189.5 KB (CPVV WAV Specifications) published in the Victoria Government Gazette on 20 February 2020.

List of WAV requirements

Requirement Specification
Allocated floor space

Allocated floor space icon

 Each wheelchair position (allocated floor/ceiling space) must be allocated at least 1300mm (length) x 800mm (width) x 1500mm (height) as required by the DSAPT.
Door entry

Door entry icon

 The vehicle access door must have:

  • an unobstructed vertical height of at least 1500 mm (mirroring the DSAPT), and
  • an unobstructed width of at least 800 mm (this requirement is specific to the Victorian Specification).
Wheelchair/occupant restraint systems Each wheelchair position must be fitted with a:

  • wheelchair restraint system, and
  • an occupant restraint system (seat belts).

Seat belts

Seat belts icon

Seat belts must be:

  • the lap and sash emergency locking retractor type, or a
  • the lap and harness type assembly.

A lap only seat belt is not a compliant restraint system for people in wheelchairs.

Wheelchair restraint systems

Wheelchair restraint systems icon

  • Wheelchairs must be securely tied down at four (4) points
  • Wheelchair restraints must be free from fraying, tears and knots
  • All restraints must be installed to ensure a universal correct fitting and comply with the applicable Australian/New Zealand standards*.

Hoists

Hoists icon

Hoists fitted to WAVs must:

  • be securely mounted to the vehicle
  • have a skid-resistant loading surface, and
  • have approach edges with an outer roll stop that is effective when the hoist is raised off the ground.

Ramps

Ramps icon

Any ramp fitted to a WAV, when commencing service, must have a gradient (slope) no steeper than one in six (1 in 6) and a width of not less than 800mm.

Hoists and ramps should be serviced regularly by the manufacturer or its agent to ensure the equipment remains in good working order.

Hoists and ramps must comply with the applicable Australian/New Zealand Standards^.
Inspections Safe Transport Victoria continues to inspect WAVs to ensure they comply with the WAV Specifications. This includes making sure each WAV has the correct type and number of restraints to match the number of wheelchair positions.

Failure to comply with the WAV requirements may result in compliance action against the vehicle owner and/or driver.
Disability standards for accessible public transport WAVs are required to comply with the Commonwealth’s Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002. These contain standards for WAVs related to:

  • ramps
  • door entry
  • boarding
  • allocated space
  • grabrails
  • signs
  • alarms.

 

Converting your vehicle to a WAV

Vehicles proposed to be used as WAVs must be modified to accommodate wheelchairs and comply with the following rules and standards:

  • Australian Design Rules (ADRs)
  • Australian Standards
  • Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (DSAPT) – Commonwealth.

Vehicle conversion companies known to us are listed alphabetically below.

Please note:

  • other companies may also be able to modify vehicles to meet the necessary wheelchair accommodation standards, even if they are not listed
  • if you want to know which make/model of vehicle a specific company can modify and what seat configuration options are available, you need to make inquiries yourself.

Wheelchair  accessible taxi vehicle conversion companies

Company Phone Web
Amind Pty Ltd (07) 3255 5066 www.amind.com.au
Automobility Pty Ltd (03) 9762 2277 www.automobility.com.au
AVA Tieman (03) 9305 2255 www.tieman.com.au
Byron Group (03) 8354 6400 www.byrongroup.com.au
Flash Cab Australia 1800 775 333
Freedom Motors Australia Pty Ltd 1800 672 437 www.freedommotorsaustralia.com.au
K & M Kite (Aust) Pty Ltd (07) 5594 7708 www.kmkite.com.au
Norden Conversions (03) 9793 1066 www.norden.com.au
Safe In Motion 0490 514 009 www.safeinmotion.com.au
VMS Geelong (03) 5278 4705 www.vmsgroup.net.au
V-Gear – Ferntree Gully (03) 9758 7276

Vehicle and equipment checks before you drive a WAV

The Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry Act 2017 establishes a range of safety duties for all industry participants.
Drivers also have a responsibility to ensure that they are providing a safe service and should not be driving a vehicle that has faults or defects.

If the check of the WAV finds any faults or defects, they must be reported to the vehicle owner or booking service provider. If the driver owns the vehicle, they must take responsibility for fixing the issue.

At the start of every shift the following preoperational vehicle and equipment checks should be carried out on the WAV in addition to those that would be carried out on a conventional vehicle.

Inside the vehicle, check that:

• the ramp or hydraulic lift (hoist) is operating properly
• the ramp or hoist control boxes or switches are operating properly
• all occupant restraints can be accounted for and are fully functional (it is a good idea to have a spare set of restraints)
• an adequate number of functioning wheelchair tie-downs are stored in the vehicle and are in good working order
• floor tracking is undamaged.