TD clarifies doubts on Electronic Audible Traffic Signal

Transport Department (TD) today (July 4) clarified some of the misunderstandings recently reported in the media relating to the electronic audible traffic signal (eATS).

A spokesman for TD said: "TD has all along consulted various organisations of the visually impaired on the implementation of the eATS project and today they discussed with the Hong Kong Society for the Blind (HKSB) on the performance of eATS. HKSB have offered their expert advice to assist TD to fine tune the output sound level and improve the performance of the eATS."

HKSB is a professional organisation. It was founded in 1956 and has ever since provided professional service to the visually impaired. From the seventies onwards, the HKSB has provided orientation and mobility training to the visually-impaired above the age of 16. At present, there are 13 Orientation and Mobility Trainers (including two senior trainers) providing this service. The two senior trainers received their expert training in the United Kingdom. The visually-impaired in Hong Kong receive orientation and mobility training at the HKSB. This includes correct use of audible traffic signals at pedestrian crossings.

The spokesman further clarified that the eATS contract was awarded to Siemens because they offered a fully compliant product. "The reason for not accepting the product suggested by some visually impaired people was that the supplier did not submit an environmental test report to demonstrate the satisfactory performance of the device under adverse climatic conditions in Hong Kong. Besides meeting the tender requirements, the sound level output of Siemens product can be separately adjusted for different phases of traffic signals, making it particularly suitable to adapt to different situations."

"After fine tuning, the performance of the eATS is satisfactory and acceptable. The eATS will provide 24-hour service to the visually impaired and is an improvement over the existing one," the spokesman said.

End/Friday, July 4, 2003