Tactile Paving Stones

[kid curry]

Just a little poser question here, and Please, Please, Please dont think i am discriminative to anybody at all, i am just really intrigued by this.

For anybody who isn't aware of what Tactile Paving Stones are, they are the "nobbly" paving stones on the approach to pedestrian crossings. I have been reliably informed that they are there to alert blind or partially sighted people of a PEdestrian LIght CONtrolled (PE-LI-CON) crossing. if that is the case, why are they different colours?

sorry if it appears that i am picking on people with sight problems, but i really would like to know, why they use coloured stones!!!

Bye For Now, The Kid

[kempie]

This guidance document from the Department for Transport website states...

"The use of certain colours in the surface is recommended as many partially sighted people have sufficient residual vision to detect strong contrasts in colour and tone. Installing the surface in a colour and tone which contrasts with the surrounding footway will provide a visual indication of the limits of the footway."

[kempie]

The document goes on to say

"At controlled crossings only the surface should be red to indicate to partially sighted people that the crossing is controlled...

At uncontrolled crossings the surface should be buff or such a colour (other than red) as provides a contrast with the surrounding surface. Some relaxation of the guidance regarding colour may be acceptable in conservation areas..."

[vespaboy]

Kid curry

I work in the tiling industry and can give you a lay-mans guide:

Tactile pavers are placed in situ to warn blind or partially sighted people of possible danger ahead.

All should be contrasting in colour to the adjacent floor surface. ie. if to be set in black tarmac pavers should be light in colour and if set in normal concrete flagstones should be dark in colour (partially sighted people can sometimes see the shade difference)

Tactiles are profiled to inform the approaching person of which danger is in front of them:

Corduroy (raised straight lines) means staircase.

Evenly placed horizontal and vertical raised dots means road.

Misplaced or diagonally positioned draised dots means platform edge (trains or trams).

I could go into more datail if required.