Navigating Safely : A Guide to Tactile Paving
TACTILE PAVING : Specialized floor surfaces with raised profiles designed to be detected underfoot or by a long cane .
SENSORY
GUIDANCE AND WARNING
These surfaces provide essential information to blind or partially sighted people , alerting them to changes in the environment or upcoming hazards .
RAISED STUDS :
A series of circular raised studs most commonly found at pedestrian crossing points where a dropped kerb is present .
ROUNDED RAISED BARS : A series of parallel bars used to signal level crossings , the top and bottom of staircases , and other specific environmental hazards .
STRATEGIC PLACEMENT
The specific shape of the paving ( studs vs. bars ) tells the user exactly what type of navigation point or hazard they are approaching .