Safety stop for wheelchair lift

A safety device for use in connection with a vehicle wheelchair lift, the safety device comprising:

• a base plate adapted for positioning inside of and adjacent to the vehicle wheelchair lift and mounting to a vehicle floor;
• a barrier plate;
• and an actuator;
• wherein the actuator is operatively connected to the barrier plate to cause movement of the barrier plate from a lowered position to a raised position such that the movement of the barrier plate is independent of movement of the vehicle wheelchair lift, wherein when in the lowered position, the barrier plate is substantially level with the horizon permitting a wheelchair to move over the safety device and onto the vehicle wheelchair lift when the vehicle wheelchair lift is in a raised, horizontal position, and wherein when in the raised position, the barrier plate raises from the lowered position to a position substantially perpendicular to the lowered position to prevent the wheelchair from crossing over the safety device when the vehicle wheelchair lift is in any position other than the raised, horizontal position.