In Australia alone, there are more than 450,000 people who suffer from some form of visual impairment. This figure is expected to rise, and it is important that we design cities, buildings and infrastructure with an understanding of pedestrian safety in mind. All pedestrians deserve to be able to wander the streets safely and discover all the things our cities have to offer.
Enhancing safety for all — while remaining compliant — is at the heart of everything we do at Classic Architectural Group. Particularly when it comes to designing spaces for pedestrians, we understand the importance of access for all.
In Australia, urban planners and designers tend to overlook key details because they have the benefit of full sight. This is to the detriment of the visually impaired, who often remark that safety for pedestrians is lacking, leading to reduced confidence and complete avoidance of certain areas.
The blind and visually impaired are unable to read signs and the biggest aid for their mobility comes from innovative new technologies, as well as the effective implementation of tactile ground surface indicators (TGSI’s), braille signs and high-contrast markings.
Some of the most common incidents involving pedestrians are experienced at the following locations:
Entrances:
In public spaces, the foot-fall near the entrance is maximum. In this area, people leaving and entering are more susceptible to falls, trips and slips. Dirt, debris, sand particles or moisture on the footwear of pedestrians can easily cause scratches, stains or scuff marks on the indoor flooring. The expensive interior flooring surface can easily deteriorate with time, leading to potential slip and trip hazards.
How to make entrances safer for people with visual impairments?
Covering a floor with entrance matting improves safety and mitigates the risk of potential accidents.
Entrance mats with textured surfaces — such as the Integra Verse or the Integra Vantt — provide tactile information to individuals with visual impairments, allowing them to navigate entrances more confidently. For example, certain textures or patterns can signal the transition from the outside to the inside of a building, helping individuals recognise when they have crossed a threshold.
Mats designed to be non-slip, like the Integra Link, can reduce the risk of falls and accidents when entering or exiting a building, particularly during wet or icy weather.
An effective matting is engineered to attract dirt, remove any debris and moisture from the footwear of the people as they place their feet on the mat before entering the building.
Stairways:
In 2023 alone, there were more than 16,000 cases of fall-related injuries and hospitalisations caused on stairs or steps. They are the result of a number of complex factors. Despite this, there are times when not enough importance is given to safe stair design and construction principles.
The visibility of safe stairs is critical to ensure that a person can prepare to coordinate their gait during stair ascent and descent. For people who do not have visual impairments, visual clues such as handrails, depth perception, good lighting conditions and high visibility of stair nosings are useful. Poor delineation of the step edge may confuse people negotiating the stairs, particularly in poor lighting conditions and this can increase the risk of a misstep.
How to make stairs safer for people with visual impairments?
Best practice is to set slip resistive strips with a luminance contrast greater than 30% to the very edge of the stairs. The width of the strips should be between 50-75mm to assist people in negotiating the stairs by clearly delineating the step edge. This is even more important when people’s eyes require time to adapt to lower lighting conditions. To highlight best practice, these safe stair features are required for disability access requirements within AS 1428.1, Design for Access and Mobility; Part 1: General requirements for access – Buildings.
For blind or visually impaired people, tactile warnings like stair nosings and clear, easy-to-feel handrails can make a huge difference. Using uniform step dimensions can make it easier for people to navigate up and down the stairs. When making stairs more accessible, ensure that you design stairways in a straight line or a gradual curve. Sharp turns or blind corners can be difficult to navigate for people with blindness or low visibility.
Carparks:
Everyone needs to visit shopping centres, leisure facilities and workplaces. Carparks are always busy, and whilst they are usually low-speed environments, a number of significant accidents have occurred here; particularly involving children and the elderly. Standards are often lacking, and lighting may not allow maximum visibility of pedestrians.
How to make car parks safer for pedestrians?
There are many ways to make your car park safer:
- Ensure clear signage highlighting that the carpark is a shared vehicle/pedestrian zone with a 10km/h max limit
- Mark out the safest route for pedestrian access in high-contrast paint
- Consider installation of directional tactiles
- Install speed bumps and bollards to slow drivers and mark out prohibited zones
- Engage a safety specialist for design advice like Classic Architecture Group
Safer cities for all
At Classic Architectural Group, we know that we’re only as successful as those who we work with, together with the change we effect. We want to help people live their best lives, enhanced in some way by the service and products we offer, and we take this responsibility seriously. This vision drives us to provide innovative access solutions, supported by an enduring commitment to quality and service that delivers the best possible results to keep people safe.
To explore the full range of products that help you increase safety and access, get in touch with our friendly team of experts by calling 1300 244 377 today.
