A recent ruling by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation allows new provisions in the code of federal regulations for modifying cars to accommodate people with disabilities.
According to a March 9 unofficial ruling, the NHTSA finalized a rule to improve equity for drivers and passengers with disabilities by updating federal motor vehicle safety standards in rear visibility, air bags and roof crush resistance.
“Everyone should have access to safe transportation,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a March 9 NHTSA release. “These new changes will eliminate some of the barriers faced by drivers and passengers with disabilities, so they can get where they need to go safely.”
The rule requires vehicle manufacturers to accommodate those with disabilities by improving safety features which balance safety and accessibility.
Rule changes will allow companies to install hand controls in rental cars by temporarily disabling some air bags to install hand controls, permit the installation of rear-mounted wheelchair transporters and allow manufacturers to raise the height of a vehicle's roof.
“Everyone deserves equitable access to safe transportation and this rule will remove certain obstacles that have prevented people with disabilities the freedom to travel safety and comfortably,” said Dr. Steven Cliff, NHTSA’s deputy administrator, in the release. “At NHTSA, we are wholly committed to improving everyone’s safety by integrating the needs of all road users – not just drivers and passengers but pedestrians, cyclists, children, older Americans and people with disabilities.”
