The system, which has been launched as a test project, includes lane guidance and sensory pedestrian crossing traffic signals to aid visually impaired pedestrians when crossing the road.
The traffic lights are designed to communicate reliable information to the pedestrians, as well as alert motorists approaching the intersection to enhance pedestrians’ safety.
Upon pressing the button at the intersection, sounds and audible commands alert the visually impaired when the robot has changed for pedestrians to cross, and when it is no longer safe to enter the intersection. The sounds also become more rapid when the traffic light is about to change, alerting pedestrians to speed up.
Lane lights, built into the road surface, serve as an additional warning to motorists that the traffic light is red and that they need to stop.
“We are very proud of the launch of this pilot project which seeks to enable the safe mobility of visually impaired pedestrians,” said the roads agency’s managing director, Skhumbuzo Macozoma.
“The JRA is mandated to provide quality roads that are accessible, safe and livable for our communities, and through this test project, the visually impaired are able to cross the road safely and independently, thereby benefiting from the city’s road infrastructure.”
The system was launched at Regents Park just outside the Johannesburg Society for the Blind offices in October.
According to the roads agency’s spokesperson Bertha Peter-Scheepers, rolling out the system in other parts of the city would be determined based on the success of the pilot project.
“The project will help us to determine what the visually impaired users experiences of the system have been, how it can be improved and what the needs of the community are going forward,” she said.
“Obviously we can’t use this technology at every intersection across the city, so we will have to be very selective about where it will be used based on how it will best benefit the visually impaired community.”
