AUDIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS - GUIDELINES FOR INSTALLATION AND OPERATION

Audible pedestrian signals emit beeping sounds to aid visually impaired pedestrians. As their installation increases in the United States, two key questions need to be addressed: (1) at which intersections should audible signals be installed? and (2) to what uniform standards or criteria should the devices conform? This article reviews a paper by Morris B. Oliver, which was published in the September 1989 issue of Public Roads. In this paper Oliver reports on his 1988 feasibility study which examined nearly every aspect of audible pedestrian signals. Working under the a Federal Highway Administration Graduate Research Fellowship, he gathered information on the state-of-the-art in audible pedestrian signal use through a comprehensive search of existing literature and a survey of all parties subject to and interested in safety for visually impaired pedestrians. Twelve criteria emerged as necessary for installing and operating audible pedestrian signals. The audible devices: (1) must not be annoying to the average pedestrian or resident; (2) must have sound levels from 10-120 dB; (3) must be low cost; (4) must have upper and lower sound levels; (5) must be simple to install; (6) must be easy to maintain; (7) must be mechanically adjustable; (8) should not require extra wiring to the cabinet; (9) should not interfere with other normal operations of signal; (10) must sound only when the walk sign is displayed; (11) must have a distinct sound for each direction; (12) should be actuated by either pedestrian, timer, or both.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0884612X
• Corporate Authors:

  TranSafety, Incorporated

  8136 Old Keene Mill Road, Suite B-101
  Springfield, VA  United States  22152
• Publication Date: 1989-10

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 3
• Serial:
  • TRANSAFETY REPORTER
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue Number: 10
  • Publisher: TranSafety, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0884-612X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Audible pedestrian signals; Audible warning devices; Building; Facilities; Guidelines; Installation; Maintenance practices; Pedestrian safety; State of the art studies; Visually impaired persons
• Uncontrolled Terms: Operation and maintenance
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00489768
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 30 1989 12:00AM