Pedestrian crossing sound signals causing confusion

A full review of all pedestrian crossing signals in Dublin city is under way due to concerns about confusion and dangers caused by "audible signals".

The review is being carried out with a view to introducing "tactile" signals at some pedestrian crossings, and to turning off the audible signals.

Complaints have been made to Dublin City Council about confusion at some crossings where the signals from adjacent crossings could also be heard.

In a briefing document on the plans, seen by The Irish Times, the council says that despite the "beneficial role of audible signals in facilitating the mobility of blind and partially sighted pedestrians", it had received complaints.

These were "in the main from sighted members of the public, where pedestrian crossings were located close to one another so that the audible signal from one crossing was being mistakenly attributed to the other". This was creating "an obvious danger".

Brendan O'Brien, head of technical services in the council's traffic section, said complaints had also been received from the National Council for the Blind of Ireland.

The council planned now to turn off the audible signal at a number of crossings. Instead, new "tactile-only" signals would operate at these locations.

Mr O'Brien explained these would work with a pulsating sensation embedded into the button pad. Just above the large push-button an arrow-shaped button would point in the direction the pedestrian should walk.

Visually impaired pedestrians "can rest their finger on this arrow", he said.

During the "red-man" phase, "it will tick, or vibrate slowly".

"When the green man comes on, the arrow will vibrate faster".

These will be introduced in a small number of locations, he said, where there had been confusion.

These included two points at O'Connell Bridge where three crossings were very close to each other. Mr O'Brien said these would be in place "in the next few weeks".