Taxi Driver Online

Taxi campaign to ensure wheelchair users strapped in

A NEW safety campaign is aimed at taxi drivers who carry disabled people in wheelchairs. “Safety on the Move” stemmed from an idea by Ann Holgate who tragically lost her son, Kristian, in March 2009. The 17-year-old Rastrick student suffered from muscular dystrophy.

He died almost a month after he was thrown from his wheelchair while travelling in a specially-adapted cab at Ainley Top on route to Huddersfield New College. On June 24 Calderdale Council’s Road Safety Team and Ravenscliffe High School, Halifax, will launch the campaign.

Mrs Holgate wants to ensure the safety of wheelchair users as they are transported by ensuring that the wheelchair and passenger are properly restrained. “No family should have to go through what we have.

“Taking simple steps to ensure that wheelchairs and their occupants are properly secured could help prevent a tragedy. “It only takes a few seconds to put a seat belt on – and for wheelchair users, those few seconds of extra care could be the difference between life and death in the event of a crash.”

Hackney carriage drivers and Calderdale Access buses will display stickers with the message “We Care. We Will Secure Your Chair” and stickers for wheelchairs will say “Please Care. Secure My Chair.” Calderdale Council said it hoped other local authorities and transport providers would join the campaign.

In February this year a crown court judge halted the case against the cab driver transporting Kristian because he said it would have been an “abuse of process.” During an earlier interview the driver said he had secured Kristian’s wheelchair in the taxi but forgot to fasten a seatbelt.

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