2000, Field Evaluation of Audible Traffic Signals for Blind Pedestrians, XIVth Triennial

The project aims to single out an audible trafiic signal or a pair of audible traftlc signals that would enable blind pedestrians to cross intersections safely. This is carried out in three phases: 1) measuring walking alignment and crossing time of blind pedestrian subjects within a simulated corridor, with four different simultaneous tra5Ic signals (cuckoo, peep-peep, 4-note melody and neo-cuckoo) presented in a quiet environment, 2) measuring alignment with audible traflic signals alternating on each end of the simulated conidor, in a quiet enviromnent and 3) measuring alignment at a busy real intersectjon This paper reports on the results of the first two phases. The 4-note melody or&naUy proposed by Hall et al (1996) and mcdifad in a recent study @troche et al, 1999) gave better results in termsofloc~~nandperceptionofsafetythananyothersignalsspecifiedintheCanadian staudard (‘kmpomtion Association of Canada, 1992). Audible tra & signals alternating backandforthoneachsjdeofthecorridorgavebetterresultsthansignafspresented simultaneously iiom both sides. Ih’TRODUCTION Audible tmflic signals are sometime