Blind pedestrians

Blind and partially sighted pedestrians are at risk when using the highway. Tactile and audible clues are very important to these road users. Some studies have shown that blind pedestrians take up to four times as long to cross the road as sighted pedestrians. 

At controlled crossings, audible signals and rotating knurled knobs under the control box are used to assist a blind pedestrian to decide when it is safe to step out into traffic (which they cannot see). 

The tactile paving guidance in Westminster has similarities to that described in Chapter 9 in the London Borough of Newham. In that case, a blind pedestrian obtained a judicial review in which the Newham guide was declared unlawful . 

Pedestrians all too often walk or stand in the blind spots in front and to the right of your vehicle. 

Stop at all stop signs, blind comers, or when entering intersecting aisle and look for pedestrians and vehicle traffic. 

Pedestrian guard-rail is needed where pedestrians may not expect filtering traffic. This will encourage pedestrians to cross within studs and guide blind and partially sighted pedestrians. 

Sound warning device at all cross aisles, exits, elevators, sharp corners, ramps, and blind corners and when approaching pedestrians. 

Suitable guardrails and barriers should be erected at entrances and exits from buildings and at blind corners at the end of racking in warehouses. Particular care must be taken in areas where lorries are being loaded or unloaded. It is important that separate doorways are provided for pedestrians and vehicles and all such doorways should be provided with a vision panel and an indication of the safe clearance height, if used by vehicles. Finally, the enforcement of a sensible speed limit, coupled where practicable, with speed governing devices, is another effective control measure. 

Make full stops, and be sure it is safe before proceeding at blind comers or passing through doorways convex mirrors are use to both trucks and pedestrians at blind comers. 

OSHA does not have a requirement that forklift vehicles be equipped with a backup alarm or warning light (although these features are standard on most new equipment). Aforklift must have, at minimum, some type of sound-producing device that an operator can use at cross aisles and blind intersections where vision is obstructed to warn pedestrians and other forklift drivers that they are approaching. The sound-producing device mentioned in the Powered Industrial Truck standard is a horn. 

Operating area - storage and stacking areas should be properly laid out, v/ith removal of blind corners. Passing places need to be provided where trucks and people are likely to pass each other in restricted spaces, and traffic routes need to be clearly defined with adequate visibility. Pedestrians should be excluded from operating areas. Suitable warning signs v/ill be required to indicate priorities. 

In 2012, a representative year, 3,402 accidents between commercial vehicles (trucks and agricultural vehicles) and cyclists occurred in Germany. Furthermore, 55 collisions between pedestrians and turning commercial vehicles occurred in German inner cities. It may reasonably be assumed that these accidents are caused by insufficient information for the driver (blind spots) [1]. An increased field of view (FOV) reduces fatal accidents, especially with cyclists or pedestrians [1] and [2]. 

Mirrors on the lift truck as well as those mounted at blind corners, walkways, and dock areas are necessary. Also, any areas where red or yellow flashing lights could be mounted will warn the pedestrian of an approaching lift truck. These should be used where visibility is limited and pedestrian safety requires visual and audible warnings. Even the horn of the forklift can provide a warning to those on foot. 

Power-driven equipment and machines pose many hazards to employees, particularly when used improperly or without adequate safeguards. Workers are at risk of lacerations, amputations, severed fingers, and blindness. If equipment is not properly grounded, a metal framework could become energized and possibly electrocute an employee. When driving a forklift in an unsafe manner, the operator runs the risk of tipping the vehicle or striking a pedestrian. 

A forklift must have, at minimum, some type of sound-producing device that an operator can use at cross aisles and blind intersections where vision is obstructed to warn pedestrians and other forklift drivers that they are approaching. 

Shared space schemes can present particular issues for blind and partially sighted pedestrians. 

The findings are of particular concern to the Guide Dogs for the Blind charity, which commissioned the research on behalf of visually impaired pedestrians. 

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