Introducing Quantum – A revolutionary new approach to wheelchair and scooter securement on buses

Imagine the scenario, you are driving a crowded bus, which includes a passenger in a wheelchair. They are in the wheelchair space and have followed all your instructions to activate their brakes and are holding onto the grab rail. How can you be sure that brakes of the wheelchair are enough to stabilise the passenger? If the wheelchair moves it could potentially endanger the user and the other passengers surrounding them.

Q’Straint has addressed this with Quantum. The revolutionary product which was developed by combining transportation insight, intelligent technology and a pioneering new approach to securement. After boarding a bus, Quantum allows wheelchair and scooter passengers to position their chair and by simply pushing a button to secure themselves in a stable and safe rear-facing position without driver assistance. The process takes under 25 seconds.

“The Quantum ensures the highest level of passenger safety whilst also giving wheelchair users the independence to automatically self-secure without driver assistance.” Explains Andy Cumming of Q’Straint, “It provides ground breaking new levels of safety and accessibility”.

Experiencing Quantum

Q’Straint invited Helen Dolphin MBE to trial the Quantum in situ on an actual bus route. Being an occasional wheelchair user herself, Dolphin was able to give an insight into the issues that wheelchair users face when using public transport as well as share her thoughts and feelings on the Quantum. Dolphin knows only too well that an extremely important issue for disabled people travelling on a bus is safety. “I have often found myself nearly tipping over in my manual wheelchair when a bus has taken a corner a bit sharpish,” she said.

The journey began with Dolphin seamlessly boarding the bus, backing in to the wheelchair space and securing herself by “pressing a large flashing green button”, within 20 seconds two arms were securely holding her wheelchair in place. Dolphin reported: “I tried my best to escape from the arms securing me but my wheelchair did not budge. This bus could have driven a slalom course and I would have remained exactly where I was locked in. I felt completely safe and secure.”

Industry benefits

Operators will benefit immediately and profoundly with more secure passengers. Quantum puts an end to challenging securement manoeuvres that upset passengers and put drivers at risk of personal injury. By safely securing wheelchairs and scooters, Quantum ultimately reduces liability exposure for injuries to mobility passengers as well as to seated or standing commuters who could be injured by unsecured mobility devices.

For more information see www.qstraint.co.uk or view the Quantum blog at www.thequantumleap.com