Maciej Sydor

Driving a car independently significantly enhances the quality of life, particularly for individuals with mobility disabilities. Wheelchair users face several challenges when loading and unloading their wheelchairs into and from vehicles, hindering their personal transportation independently. The influence of wheelchair design on the wheelchair and car compatibility for self-loading and unloading hasn't been fully explored in the scientific literature; therefore, this study investigates the impact of various design features found in modern wheelchairs on their suitability for disabled drivers. Four types of wheelchairs were compared in this study; two participants with paraplegia, one male and one female, participated in the tests. Video recordings captured the procedures for getting in and out of the vehicle. Subsequent results analysis involved breaking down these procedures into steps and comparing them. The study demonstrated that times of independent entry into a car and loading of a wheelchair ranged from 48 to 74 seconds, while exiting the vehicle and loading a wheelchair phase took between 56 and 86 seconds. A key takeaway from this research is that dividing the wheelchair frame, the largest and heaviest component, into two parts facilitates loading and unloading processes. However, this may slightly increase the duration of these activities. Detaching the seat aids more individuals with limited upper body strength.