Road crossing signals for visually impaired going electronic

Electronic audible traffic signals (eATS) for the visually impaired will be installed at signalized road crossings in a two-phase territory-wide effort, the Transport Department announced today (April 24).

About 7,000 existing electro-mechanical audible traffic signals will be replaced by eATS in the first phase. In the second phase, 3,000 eATS will be installed at pedestrian crossings that now lack audible traffic signals.

The project will be completed by April 2004.

"The eATS can provide an audible indication of the current state of the pedestrian signal, letting visually impaired persons know when to cross the road," Transport Department Senior Engineer Mr Li Chi-chiu said.

"It can not only adjust its output sound volume automatically in response to the ambient noise level, but also provide a tactile signal for the visually impaired.

"What's more, most of eATS' audible output is directed towards the carriageway round the clock without causing an excessive noise nuisance to the residents nearby," he said.

Currently, the electro-mechanical audible traffic signals are set to broadcast at fixed sound levels in all directions day and night. While the sound must be loud enough for the visually impaired to hear during the daytime, the same output level can disturb nearby residents at night.

Mr Li said the eATS with its new features -- ambient noise responsive output, directional output, and tactile signal -- would not only make road crossings safer for the visually impaired but also reduce noise disturbance to a minimum.

The sound level of the new eATS was decided after consultations with the visually impaired and people who live near signalized crossings.

Installation priority will be given to crossings where the performance of the existing electro-mechanical audible traffic signals has brought complaints, Mr Li said.

End/Thursday, April 24, 2003