Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Effect on Safety and Independence of Pedestrians Who Are Blind

Pedestrians who are blind or visually impaired often cross at unfamiliar signalized intersections. This paper reports the results of research on street crossings by these pedestrians at complex intersections, before and after the installation of accessible pedestrian signals (APS). Objective data on measures of street crossing performance by sixteen participants who were blind was obtained at two intersections. The analysis included broad measures of crossing timing, orientation, and independence. After the installation of APS, delay in beginning crossing was reduced by approximately 2 seconds. Post-installation, there was significant improvement in beginning to cross during WALK, completing crossings before the onset of perpendicular traffic, locating the crosswalk, aligning to cross, and in independence, at pedestrian-actuated crossings.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: CD-ROM
  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 21p
  • Monograph Title: TRB 85th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers CD-ROM

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01023177
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: 06-1169
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Mar 3 2006 10:36AM