A Glossary of Terms

Anchor point
The location on a vehicle, wheelchair, or wheelchair tiedown where a belt-restraint or wheelchair-tiedown anchorage is attached.
ANSI-RESNA WC19 (officially, SECTION 19 ANSI/RESNA WC/VOL. 1 Wheelchairs for use in Motor Vehicles)
A voluntary standard for wheelchairs designed for use when traveling facing forward in a motor vehicle. NOTE: ISO 7176/19 is an international transit wheelchair standard that specifies similar design and performance requirements as ANSI/RESNA WC19.
Belt
A length of energy-absorbing webbing material used in occupant restraint systems.
Docking tiedown
A method for securing wheelchairs where portions of the wheelchair frame, or add-on components fastened to the wheelchair frame, engage with a securement device anchored to the vehicle.
Four-point strap-type tiedown
A method for securing a wheelchair where four straps are attached to the wheelchair at four separate securement points and attached to the vehicle at four separate anchor points.
Occupant restraint
A system or device designed to restrain a motor vehicle occupant in a crash by keeping the occupant in the vehicle seat and minimizing contact with the vehicle interior, other occupants, or objects outside the vehicle.
Postural support
A padded component and/or belt used to help maintain a person in a desired position during normal wheelchair use. In general postural supports are not designed to provide effective occupant restraint in a motor vehicle crash.
SAE Recommended Practice J2249 (officially, SAE J2249 Wheelchair Tiedowns and Occupant Restraints for Use in Motor Vehicles)
A Society of Automotive Engineers Recommended Practice that specifies design and performance requirements for wheelchair tiedown and occupant restraint systems. NOTE: ISO 10542 is an international WTORS standard that specifies comparable design and performance requirements as SAE J2249.
Securement points
Specific structural points on the wheelchair base or seat frame that are designed for attachment of wheelchair tiedowns.
Strap
A length of webbing material used in wheelchair tiedown systems.
WC19 wheelchair
A crash-tested wheelchair with four clearly identified securement points that meets the design and performance requirements of ANSI-RESNA WC19 Wheelchairs Used as Seats in Motor Vehicles, and is sometimes called a transit wheelchair.
Wheelchair tiedown and occupant-restraint system (WTORS)
A complete system for use by wheelchair-seated occupants comprised of a system or device for securing the wheelchair and a belt-type restraint system for limiting occupant movement in a motor vehicle crash.