HISPANO is a member of the 'Centro Directivo de la Acción COST 349: "Accessibility in cars and coaches for people with limited mobility".

The physically handicapped and the aged are a significant and growing segment of the European population whose needs for transport either for work or leisure are of ever increasing importance for passenger transport operators. The handicapped, in particular, account for approximately 13% of the European population, approximately 63 million people..

Adapting installations and services to suit the needs of the disabled people and the aged makes them better for everyone. The quality of passenger transport is increased and this encourages the use of these vehicles by people who do not have a physical handicap.

The main aim of this action is to develop a set of regulations for the construction and design of trucks, urban buses and international coaches with systems that take into account the needs of those whose mobility is limited. We try to help both the operators and the authorities when they bring in to operation plans for more accessible and higher quality transport systems.

Participants:

	Instituto Universitario de Investigación del Automóvil (INSIA). Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. (University Automobile Research Institute. Polytechnic University of Madrid).
	Autoridad Regional para el Transporte (Generalitat de Cataluña). (Regional Transport Authorities (Regional Government of Catalonia).
	Instituto Universitario de Investigación del Automóvil (INSIA). Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.
	Autoridad Regional para el Transporte (Generalitat de Cataluña).
	Hispano Carrocera, S.A.

Some of the matters that the committee will address are:

	Access to terminals and bus stops.
	Bus and coach design (construction, interior layout and facilities, including on-board information).
	Interface between road and bus stop surface and vehicle (including lift systems or other access equipment yet to be defined).
	Safety restraints for wheelchair users (wheelchair restraints and occupant protection) and safety in the event of emergency situations.

The overall result of the Action will be a report that describes the optimal construction and design of vehicles and its relevant infrastructure, as well as the social and economic benefits for passengers, operators and the industry.

The Action's results may also be of considerable relevance in the development of EU legislative or regulatory acts.