Tactile ground surface indicator widening and its effect on users' detection abilities

Abstract

To prevent visually impaired persons from falling from railway platforms, we performed an experimental study to evaluate the effect of widening the tactile ground surface indicators (TGSIs) that warn them when they are nearing the platform edge. The focus of the evaluation was the detectability of dot tiles and the stopping distance required after they had been detected. As a result, it was not only proved that the typical width of 300 mm is effective, but also that adding 100 mm improves that effectiveness. The detection rate reached 100% when the width was 600 mm.