How Can Tactile Warning Surfaces and ADA Solutions Improve Transit?

tactile-warning-surfaces-and-ada-solutions-improve-transit

People are on the go daily. Many often rely on public transportation services like trains, subways, and buses. Getting around can be more difficult if you have some sort of travel-limiting disability and have to rely upon some type of medical device for assistance.

Travel-limiting disabilities require the use of walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, seeing-eye dogs, canes, and so on. Navigating transit stations can be challenging as there are often several obstacles one must overcome. These could include turnstiles, platform edges, elevators, escalators, stairs, ramps, and more.

How ADA Solutions can help improve transit and people with travel-limiting disabilities is with our tactile warning surfaces. Our warning surfaces provide feedback for those with visual impairments. The surface tiles can be used in several locations, as well as for guidance to help people safely get where they need to go.

Additionally, warning surfaces also help provide visual feedback for people without visual impairments. They can help get the attention of someone who is distracted and prevent them from walking off a platform or falling down a flight of stairs.

For more information about how ADA Solutions helps improve transit and our tactile warnings surfaces, we invite you to continue reviewing the following infographic.

Afterward, feel free to browse our online catalog of warning surface tile products. Do not hesitate to contact us directly if you have further questions or need assistance in selecting the best warning surfaces for your transit system. We look forward to sharing our knowledge to help you make your workplace or transit station accessible to everyone.

How Can Tactile Warning Surfaces and ADA Solutions Improve Transit? (Infographic)

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The Different Types of ADA Tiles

Different Types of ADA Tiles

There are several different types of ADA tiles you can use in various locations that provide specific functions and purposes. Each of these tiles complies with current ADA requirements relating to the overall size of the tiles and the spacing between the truncated domes.

  • Please note: It is the responsibility of the installer to ensure tiles are installed according to ADA requirements regarding placement, incline, etc.

1. Cast-in-Place

This type of ADA tile is for new construction projects and renovations.

2. Cast-in-Place Replaceable

This type of ADA tile is also for new construction projects and renovations. The key difference from Cast-in-Place is that Cast-in-Place Replaceable tiles are replaceable without having to tear out the concrete.

3. Surface Applied

This type of ADA tile is for retrofitting projects and is applied on top of existing surfaces.

4. Radius System

This type of ADA tile is for curved applications like common at busy intersections.

5. Cast Iron

This type of ADA tile is well-suited for extreme conditions.

6. Photoluminescent

This type of ADA tile provides lighting in low lighting conditions for non-visually impaired people.

7. Replaceable Graphic Tile

This type of ADA tile is like Cast-in-Place Replaceable but has graphics on the replaceable part of the tile, such as business advertisements, warnings, or other images and messages.

8. Way-Finding Surface

This type of ADA tile is to help visually impaired people find their way in various walking areas like college campuses and parks.

To learn more about the different types of ADA tiles and their differences, we invite you to continue reviewing the following infographic.

Afterward, if you have further questions or need assistance in selecting the best ADA tiles for your project, please feel free to contact ADA Solutions directly to speak with a representative today!

Different Types of ADA Tiles (Infographic)

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What Is an ADA Violation?

stop do not enter sign

The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, protects employees with legally recognized disabilities from being discriminated against. It requires the places they work in, use, and patronize to accommodate them by providing amenities and access. Violations of the act can lead to a number of negative consequences.

Who Enforces ADA Regulations and Why?

The United States Department of Labor enforces ADA regulations, but there are also several others involved in enforcement. These include the Department of Transportation, the Federal Communications Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Department of Justice.

These federal agencies are involved with ADA enforcement because employers, governments, and businesses are bound by federal law to provide individuals with the same level of access that others enjoy.

What Constitutes an ADA Violation?

There are many disabilities and many different ways to accommodate them, which means that several violations are possible.

Workplace-Related Violations

A violation can occur when job postings discourage individuals with disabilities from applying, exclude them, or deny a qualified individual employment because of their disability. It is an ADA violation for any employer to demote, terminate, harass, or fail to provide reasonable accommodations to disabled employees. Other actions that constitute a violation are:

  • Insufficient number of handrails in a walkway
  • Failing to provide wheelchair ramps in necessary areas
  • A lack of parking spots for disabled individuals
  • Inadequate restroom facilities

Violations can also occur in the public spaces individuals patronize and can extend to the improper installation of certain accommodations like handrails or the neglect to maintain a wheelchair ramp.

Public Violations

Any public location can be found to have violated ADA regulations. These locations include movie theaters, restaurants, parks, retail stores, and sidewalks. Depending on where the violation occurred, a wide range of consequences may occur, including but not limited to:

  • Fines
  • Citations
  • Injunctions
  • Lawsuits

Public locations that have been found to be in violation of ADA regulations often find themselves in need of legal representation and many have been found to be liable for payment of damages.

What Can Businesses Do to Avoid ADA Violations?

Detectable Warning Panels

Businesses need to be aware of what constitutes an ADA violation and also be aware of which accommodations need to be in place for disabled individuals. They shouldn’t discriminate against individuals nor allow their employees to do so. Employees should be trained in appropriate assistance of and interaction with disabled individuals.

Hiring policies should also focus on an individual’s qualifications. All public spaces, restrooms, parking lots, and entryways should be accessible at all times. One way to accomplish this is by installing ADA-compliant tiles.

ADA-Compliant Tiles for Every Business

Detectable warning surface tiles allow businesses to maintain their ADA compliance. ADA Solutions products include surface-applied, radius, cast-in-place, and photo-luminescent systems that provide safe access for all disabled individuals using public transit, sidewalks, street crossings, and other spaces.

Our high-quality, durable products, competitive pricing, and 7-year warranty make us the leading manufacturer of ADA-compliant tiles. Call 1-800-372-0519 for your free quote.

How to Make Your Business ADA Compliant

Make Your New Buisness ADA Complient

If you are opening a new business or relocating an existing business to a new location, you need to make sure your building is ADA-compliant. Any business that offers goods and/or services to the general public must ensure their facility is compliant with current ADA requirements.

Some of the common areas where ADA compliance can be necessary include, but may not be limited to:

1. Parking Lots

There are specific requirements depending on the number of parking spaces.

2. Interior Routes

Routes inside buildings must be accessible for people with visual impairments, as well as those in wheelchairs.

3. Barriers to Entry

Any barriers to entry like stairs must be addressed to make the building accessible, such as installing an entrance ramp.

4. Ramps/Curb Ramps

When surfaces change by more than 0.5 inches (inclines, stairs, etc.), then ramps or curb ramps must be installed.

5. Walking Surfaces

Various types of walking surfaces can require different types of ADA tiles like wayfinding tiles to help direct the flow of visually impaired people.

To learn more about making your new business location ADA-compliant and further details about these requirements, we invite you to continue reviewing the following infographic.

Afterward, if you need assistance in selecting the best ADA tiles for your new business location, please feel free to contact ADA Solutions directly to speak with a representative today!

  • Please note: There may also be state and local requirements that businesses must adhere to in order to be considered ADA-compliant. It is up to the business owner to review all local, state, and federal requirements.

How to Make Your New Buisness ADA Complient (Infographic)

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How Is ADA Enforced?

Myths or Facts concept with business woman hand drawing on blackboard

Signed into law to protect people with disabilities from discrimination, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) includes a variety of accessibility requirements. It covers everything from the width of pedestrian walkways to the slope of pedestrian ramps. It also covers the size and spacing of truncated domes on detectable warning surfaces. For any owner of a business or facility serving the general public, ADA enforcement can have a large impact.

California enacted the ADA in 1992. Since then, there have been more than 20,000 ADA-related lawsuits. The California Building Code and ADA have set a penalty of at least $4,000, plus attorney’s fees, for not meeting accessibility requirements. Payouts can be even higher than that. Every year, litigation costs California business an estimated $20 million.1

Who Enforces the ADA?

In general, ADA regulations are enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The regulations covered include those governing state and local government services under ADA Title II and public accommodations under Title III.

In addition to the DOJ, other agencies enforce the ADA. These include:

  • The Department of Labor (DOL)
  • The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
  • The Department of Transportation (DOT)
  • The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy provides technical assistance on ADA compliance, but its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and Civil Rights Center is tasked with enforcing ADA requirements. To file a direct complaint against an employer, a complainant should contact an EEOC field office in their city, while violations involving telecommunications services should be referred to the FCC. The DOT enforces transit-related regulations.

Many court cases involving ADA violations have been tried by state and local governments. Senate Bill 1608 protects businesses against litigation since ADA lawsuits have become so commonplace in California. The law allows business and property owners to have their facilities inspected for access compliance. Any inspection must be performed by a Certified Access Specialist.

Inspections can protect against unwarranted lawsuits and identify issues that can be fixed to make a facility ADA-compliant. They can also provide a time frame to make corrections and establish an intent to correct any existing accessibility issues.

Why Is the ADA Enforced?

ADA Compliant Handicap disability signs with symbol in park

Enforcing the ADA is essential as violations are all too common, even in 2020. California has more complaints than any other state, with common violations being a lack of accessibility signs or proper symbols at entrances and exits. Slopes too steep for individuals with mobility issues are problematic as well. So are non-compliant stairways with incorrect riser or handrail heights and parking spaces too far from accessible routes, which are not wide enough, and that lack designated signage.

Other issues warranting ADA enforcement include work surfaces, service counters, and bars that don’t meet minimum height requirements. Also, a facility with seating not designed to accommodate wheelchair users is in violation of the ADA.

The ADA Cheat Sheet provides an overview of what to look for when inspecting your facility for compliance. Some considerations include accessible ramp configurations, stairway handrails, doors, lavatories, water fountains, public telephones, and rooms.

To learn more about ADA enforcement and how ADA Solutions can help meet the latest ADA requirements for 2020, call us at (800) 372-0519.

Why Should You Use Iron Tactile Plates for Detectable Warning Surfaces?

anti slip traction on a step

When you need to install tactile warning surfaces around your business, city streets, or other locations to satisfy ADA requirements, you should consider using cast iron tactile plates. The purpose of detectable (tactile) warning surfaces is to aid those people with visual impairments and other disabilities.

The raised truncated dome is easy to detect with a cane and the feet to alert the visually impaired person that they are nearing a crosswalk, parking lot, or another area where they need to proceed with caution. Detectable warning surfaces also aid those who are in wheelchairs or use walkers. They can see the contrast to know the distance to the other side of the street or that a change in elevation like a curb ramp will be occurring in their path.

Using cast iron plate tactile warning surfaces provides several benefits over other solutions, including:

1. Cost-effective

Iron plates will last longer than the sidewalk or other locations where they are installed. As such, your investment pays off over the long term since you won’t have to worry about replacing the plates before the sidewalk needs to be replaced.

2. Durable

Cast iron is very durable, resistant to corrosion, and dent-resistant. The iron plates are also resistant to water, snow, and salt used to remove and prevent ice.

3. Resistant to Damage

Sidewalk cleaners, street cleaners, snowplows, and other such equipment will not damage the iron plates.

4. Compliant with the ADA Contract Requirement

Cast iron provides enough of a color contrast that it is well-suited for use on most types of concrete surfaces, including colored concrete.

5. Compliant with the ADA Truncated Dome Spacing Requirements

The truncated domes are aligned in a square pattern with a maximum 1.4-inch base diameter and a height of 0.2 inches. The domes are spaced approximately 2.4 inches apart with a base-to-base spacing of at least 0.65 inches.

6. Meets ADA Size Requirements

Cast iron tactile warning surface plates are available in 24-inch x 24-inch and 24-inch x 30-inch ADA-compliant sizes.

7. Can Be Painted to Meet State and Local Color Requirements

Some states, like California, have specific color requirements for tactile detectable warning surfaces. The cast iron plates can be painted the approved color to meet this requirement and repainted as needed to maintain the appearance of the color.

Where Are ADA Tactile Warning Surfaces Required?

There are specific locations where ADA tactile warning surface must be installed, including:

  • Rail and Bus Station Platform Edges
  • Curb Ramps
  • Changes in Elevations on Public Paths of Travel
  • Exterior Paths of Travel
  • Handicap Ramps
  • Connections Between Retail Entry/Exit Points and Parking Lots/Vehicular Ways
  • Refuge Islands Greater Than Six Feet in Length

It is up to business owners, public works managers, and others responsible for public access areas to review current ADA requirements to ensure compliance to avoid costly penalties and ADA Title III lawsuits.

Installing Iron Dome Tactile Panel

What Are the Penalties for Not Using ADA-Compliant Detectable Warning Surfaces?

In 2014, the Department of Justice increased the penalties for violations of the ADA, including those relating to detectable warning surfaces. As of April 28, 2014, or after, the maximum monetary penalty for a first-time violation is $75,000. For subsequent violations, the maximum monetary penalty is $150,000.

To learn more about cast iron tactile plates and other detectable warning surface solutions, please feel free to contact ADA Solutions at 1-800-372-0519 today! We can even help you review ADA requirements and any state or local requirements you must satisfy to be compliant.

Is Your Business ADA-Compliant for 2020?

White Wheelchair Graphic on Black Asphalt

ADA requirements have been in place for years since the act was originally signed in the 1990s. However, it’s constantly being updated each year based on additional needs and changing work environments.

If you own a business, it’s important to know what these changes are so you can make sure you’re always ADA-compliant.

In 2020, the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act focus both on physical limitations and obstacles, as well as digital ones. Many of the 2020 ADA requirements are targeting business websites and how they, too, need to be compliant.

Let’s look at some of these rules and regulations that you’ll need to know in order to make sure your business remains compliant in the new year and beyond.

Double-Checking Those Easily Overlooked Issues

Daughter Walking Alongside Father in Wheelchair

Even if your business isn’t new, it’s not uncommon for established locations to make mistakes when considering ADA compliance. There are some frequently overlooked regulations that get businesses in trouble or hit with hefty fines, and they can be easily remedied by doing a self-audit or looking over the new rules and regulations each year.

For starters, make sure everything is properly labeled at your place of business. Tactile warning surface products can be a big help to those with disabilities, as can graphic warning plates that let people know what to expect. No warning signs or labels means that you’re not letting employees and/or customers know what could potentially be ahead of them, which may put them in danger.

Little things like the weight of your doors and the slope of your wheelchair ramps can also cause problems, and they’re often overlooked. Many business owners think that just because they’re following the basic regulations, it means they’re safe. Yet, if the things you’re putting in place aren’t usable or accessible by those with a disability, they’re doing more harm than good.

So, don’t be afraid to look over the physical regulations if you have a brick and mortar business. Refreshing yourself on what they consist of each year will help you to get better and make more changes to be compliant.

Making Your Website Accessible

Even if your business is run mostly (or solely) online, you still have to follow ADA regulations. Everyone tends to think about wheelchair ramps and proper signage when it comes to ADA compliance, but, due to advancements in technology, it’s important to consider businesses that operate digitally too.

That being said, there currently aren’t any specific regulations in place for websites by the Department of Justice, other than the fact that websites have to be accessible for all people.

It’s unlikely that there will be new regulations introduced for websites in 2020, but there are some basics that are important to follow. The DOJ has overwhelmingly agreed that websites need to be accessible. The problem is, they aren’t sure which regulations to put in place to make that happen since sites vary so greatly.

So, what can you do to make sure your website is safe while making it accessible for people with disabilities?

How to Make Your Website “ADA-Compliant”

Students Looking at ADA Compliant Website

Though there aren’t official regulations in place under the ADA, there are Web Content Accessibility Guidelines that are widely accepted as the standard by which websites should operate. Whether you have to start from scratch with your website or just make a few changes, keep these solutions in mind to make sure your site is inclusive and accessible for all:

  1. Choose your graphics carefully. Graphics can be an important part of any website since they draw people’s attention quickly. However, if you have flashing, colorful graphics, you could risk triggering a seizure for someone who is prone to them. You shouldn’t have a flashing image more than three times on the same screen. If you do have graphics, make sure any text that goes along with them is easily readable for the vision-impaired. If they can’t see it, it should be able to be easily read by someone going through the site with them.
  2. Add alt-text to all of your images. This allows people with vision problems to use site readers that can describe the image audibly.
  3. Use easy-to-read fonts in colors that remain in focus. (In other words, don’t use a dark font with a dark background.)
  4. Make sure your site is predictable. Websites are designed to operate in certain ways, and people have come to rely on that predictability. Things like labels over areas of content or site maps can help someone to navigate through your website for the first time. Having some of these standard practices in place can make a big difference.
  5. Make your site keyboard-friendly. Some people with mobility issues or those who have problems gripping a mouse rely on keyboards to browse through a website. So, make sure your site allows users to move at their own pace. That means no automatic scrolling or videos that play on their own. Allowing users to navigate with a keyboard and “pause” things so they have time to view them will make it easier for a lot of people with grip issues.

Staying Up to Date

Perhaps the best thing you can do for your business this year and beyond is to keep yourself as educated as possible on the rules and regulations of the ADA.

Technology will continue to change, and so will ADA standards. If you have a website for your business, it’s important to focus just as much on its accessibility as it is to focus on having wheelchair ramps for a brick and mortar store. Official regulations on websites might not happen this year, but, as digital businesses become more popular and prominent, it’s an issue the Department of Justice can’t ignore forever.

So, build your website the right way, now, and stay up-to-date with changing rules and regulations. By the time the DOJ does vote to officially include websites within their rules and regulations, you’ll already be one step ahead.

ADA Sidewalk Requirements in 2020

newly paved sidewalk with detectable warning system

The leading manufacturer of detectable warning surface products, ADA Solutions is committed to helping meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Our detectable warning tiles, truncated dome mats, and other products help comply with the latest ADA standards. These adhere to the minimum requirements of the revised “2010 Standards.”

The ADA was passed to help make public facilities more accessible to people who use wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility devices. Its guidelines ensure they have room to maneuver and travel. However, it is not limited to restrooms, doors, and other elements of public facilities. Streets and sidewalks must be compliant as well.

Facilities must consider everything from the required ADA sidewalk width to the slope where curb ramps are required.

newly paved sidewalk with detectable warning system

Do Sidewalks Have to Be ADA Compliant?

The ADA requires every path of travel in or around a facility, including streets, sidewalks, and curb ramps, to be accessible. Still applicable in 2019, the standards apply to state and local government facilities, commercial establishments, and public accommodations. Any building or project started on or after March 15, 2012 is required to use the 2010 Standards. Requirements applicable to sidewalks include those regarding:

Slope

An ADA sidewalk ramp cannot have a cross slope (distance from the bottom edge of a level to the surface) of more than ½ inch. A ramp is a running slope steeper than 1:20, meaning for every inch of height change, there are at least 20 inches of route run. Slope requirements for bus stop boarding and alighting areas, as with rail platforms, must be perpendicular to the roadway and not steeper than 1:48. The exception being where vehicles are boarded from sidewalks or street level, where platforms must be less than 8 inches high.

Width

The clear width between the handrails of a ramp run must be at least 36 inches. In work areas where essential equipment is used, the width can be reduced to accommodate it. The ADA sidewalk ramp rules also limit the rise for any ramp to 30 inches and require a clear landing length of at least 60 inches. If ramps change direction at landings, there should be a landing of at least 60 x 60 inches.

Curb Ramps

Curb ramps are required for newly built and altered streets, roads, and intersections or anywhere there are curbs or other barriers from the street to a pedestrian walkway. The ADA limits curb ramp steepness to no greater than 1:12 (an 8.33% slope), a width of 36 inches, and adjacent counter slopes of no steeper than 1:20. If curb ramp flares are used, they cannot be steeper than 1:10.

Also, curb ramps and flared sides cannot project into parking spaces, parking access aisles, or vehicular traffic lanes. On the bottom, diagonal curb ramps must have 48 inches of space within crossing markings or outside of traffic lanes. For raised islands, curb ramps must have a level area of at least 48 inches long by 36 inches wide.

Surface Texture

Textured surfaces (i.e., detectable warnings with truncated domes) must adhere to ADA sidewalk requirements for size, spacing, and contrast. Truncated domes must have a base diameter between 0.9 and 1.4 inches, a top diameter from 50% to 65% of the base, and a base-to-base spacing of at least 0.65 inches. There must be visual contrast with walking surfaces near it (with a light-on-dark or dark-on-light contrast). Also, any surface at a platform boarding edge must be at least 24 inches wide and cover the full length of public use areas.

Contact ADA Solutions for Standards-Compliant Detectable Warning Tiles

Our fiberglass polymer composite detectable warning surface tiles meet ADA sidewalk requirements for width, slope, and texture. Manufactured in an ISO 9002 certified facility, our cast-in-place and surface-applied panels are uniform in color and UV stable while being ADA-compliant for 2019. Browse our website to learn more about our surface tiles and relevant government regulations; or, call 800-372-0519 for a free quote.

Making Your New Business Location ADA Compliant

women and man wearing orange safety vests

In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) put regulations in place designed to specifically address the needs of Americans who deal with some kind of disability on a daily basis. The ADA requires businesses to follow these rules and regulations when it comes to both employees and customers with disabilities.

If your small business isn’t ADA business compliant, you could run into some trouble, including hefty fines. Yet, many small business owners aren’t fully aware of what the ADA really is, or what it means to be ADA-compliant. If you’re opening up a new location, it’s important to educate yourself on ADA requirements so you can make sure from the start that your business is up to date in following government regulations.

With that in mind, let’s look at the 2020 ADA requirements your business needs to meet in order to remain compliant.

Understanding Your Title

Small businesses are usually given a title based on their size. If your business has 15 or more employees, you’ll probably be considered Title I. If you have accommodations for the public or provide goods/services to customers, you’ll likely be listed as a Title III. Your title determines which regulations you’ll need to follow in order to be ADA-compliant. Compliance is specific to your type of business and its size.

Making Reasonable Accommodations

Again, the requirements your business faces will be specific to the type of business you have. A good rule of thumb is to understand that there should be reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities. Some of these accommodations might include:

  1. Written policies for employees
  2. A willingness to make minor adjustments on procedures for those with disabilities
  3. Allowing service animals
  4. Allowing mobility devices
  5. Removing barriers to existing structures (where applicable) or making new structures wheelchair-friendly

f you’re a busy clothing store in a downtown area, it might be more important for you to have a wheelchair ramp that leads up to your business. If you’re a store that operates exclusively online, you can remain compliant by making sure your website and digital resources are easy for people to read or hear (when necessary). Think about how the way you operate your business might be different if you were looking at it with a disability of your own. By putting yourself in those shoes, it can make it easier to determine which areas need to be compliant.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

parking space reserved handicapped on road with disabled sign

Without some guidance, it can be easy to overlook certain areas where your business may not be ADA-compliant. For example, you may not think of a door as a barrier but, if it uses over five pounds of pressure to open, it may not be accessible for everyone.

Other common oversights include:

  1. Improper signage and labeling (especially in bathrooms)
  2. Wheelchair ramps that have too steep of a slope
  3. Lack of clearance space for wheelchairs to move about freely

You can avoid some of these mistakes by looking over the U.S. Department of Justice’s Primer for Small Businesses. There are also ADA centers throughout the country and resources online that can help you to determine which regulations need to be followed within your business. By taking ADA-compliance rules seriously, you can avoid fines and penalties, but you’ll also show your employees and customers that everyone matters, whether they have a disability or not.

How to Promote Pedestrian Safety

Several pedestrians walking across the street in a crosswalk at night

In 2018, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported a total of 6,283 pedestrian deaths due to traffic accidents—an increase of over 3% from previous numbers. While the government and other organizations have done their best to inform pedestrians about proper traffic safety and keep them aware and alert to their surroundings, there is only so much that can be done from their side of the issue.

To truly address the risks and reduce the number of fatalities from pedestrian-vehicle crashes, it is equally important that city planners, businesses, and other property owners do their part to promote safety and protect those who cross their property on foot.

Who Is Considered a Pedestrian?

A pedestrian is generally defined as any individual who is walking, running, jogging, or otherwise moving on foot. Depending on the state, the legal definition of who is considered a pedestrian may also include anyone using a human-powered vehicle other than a bicycle, such as a non-motorized wheelchair, scooter, skateboard, or roller/inline skates.

Drivers of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other such motor vehicles are obviously not pedestrians. A person riding a bike is also typically not considered a pedestrian, though they may be considered one if they are walking with their bike rather than riding it.

The Importance of Keeping Pedestrians Safe

Protecting pedestrians from traffic accident injuries is important for a number of reasons. Most importantly, a pedestrian who is hit by a car can be seriously hurt, leading to chronic pain, permanent disability, or even death. This can leave victims and their families struggling to cope with physical, financial, and emotional stress that drastically affects their lives. Similarly, the driver of the vehicle involved may face serious legal repercussions or life-threatening injuries themselves.

Ambulance and cars driving over a pedestrian crosswalk in a the city

From the perspective of the owner of the property where the accident occurred, a crash involving one or more pedestrians can present an issue of liability. If the accident is in any way affected by poor signage, lax safety measures, or improper maintenance on the premises, the property owner may be held at least partially liable for the accident and suffer both financial losses and harm to their public image.

How to Ensure Protection on Your Property

The following are just a few ways you can make your property better for pedestrians and keep your business, employees, and customers safe from the repercussions of pedestrian accidents.

Provide Dedicated Pedestrian Walkways

Make sure that anyone who visits or works on your property is able to get around on foot via dedicated pedestrian areas like crosswalks, sidewalks, and other appropriate walking paths. Pedestrian walkways that cross over roads or parking lots should always be clearly marked as such so that both drivers and pedestrians can recognize the area. Sidewalks and other paths should be easily accessible to pedestrians and connect up with crosswalks where appropriate.

Know what your state and local laws are regarding these walkways and be sure to obey all requirements to protect both pedestrians and yourself.

Put Up Appropriate Signage

Use signs directing traffic to stop, slow, or yield to pedestrians wherever they are needed. Adding either a stop or yield sign to a crosswalk helps clarify to drivers that they must give pedestrians an opportunity to cross at that location. This can be especially helpful in areas where drivers seem to ignore crosswalks or weather makes it difficult to see the painted lines on the ground.

Again, make sure to observe any applicable state and local laws regarding required signage and how it should be used.

Keep Parking Lots and Other High-Traffic Areas Well-Maintained

If your parking lot and/or sidewalks are full of hazards, it increases the chance that drivers and/or pedestrians can get into accidents of all kinds. If there is a pothole in your lot, for example, a driver may swerve around it into pedestrian crossing areas. Similarly, an uneven sidewalk along the roadside may cause a pedestrian to stumble out into traffic.

Proper maintenance also means keeping all signage and painted lines clear and visible. Make sure that pedestrian crossings are properly and clearly marked, and that “stop,” “yield,” and other signs are legible and not obscured by any landscaping or objects. A faded crosswalk with a sun-bleached stop sign may make it clear enough to drivers that they should be prepared to stop. Likewise, pedestrians who can’t see the crosswalk may just cross wherever, without realizing there is a safer place for them to walk.

Promote a Culture of Safety in the Workplace

If you’re a business owner, it’s a good idea to promote pedestrian safety as part of your training, as well as support an overall culture of safety throughout the workplace. If you don’t already have one, enact a workplace safety program and get employees thinking about hazard reduction and personal protection. Discuss ways to stay safe, both inside and outside the building, including in parking lots, loading zones, and other areas where vehicles and pedestrians may coexist.

Use ADA Tactile Warning System Products

Not all of the pedestrians who step onto your property are capable of perceiving hazards like the average person. In the U.S., there are more than 7.6 million adults living with some kind of visual disability. For these individuals, bright signage and clearly marked crosswalks simply won’t be as effective as they would for someone fully sighted. To keep these pedestrians safe, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires the use of specialized detectable warning surfaces.

The ADA is a piece of legislation that outlines requirements for the fair treatment and accessibility needs of Americans living with a variety of disabilities. The act’s detectable warning surface requirements dictate that certain areas should have tactile surfaces that can be felt physically by those who cannot see where crosswalks, curbs, and vehicles may be. When a visually impaired person steps onto these surfaces, they’ll be able to feel that they are nearing a potentially hazardous area.

Specifically, the ADA requires that all tactile warning surfaces use what is known as a “truncated dome” pattern, which is essentially repeating rows of bumps with their domed tops cut off. The ADA also details the exact specifications to which these domes must be manufactured in order to provide maximum detectability without being slippery or creating a trip hazard themselves.

A close-ip of a truncated dome pattern on a silver metallic tactile warning surface

Detectable warning tiles can be installed along sidewalk curbs, crosswalk transition ramps, subway platforms, etc. to alert visually impaired persons to their location and prevent them from falling into unsafe areas or walking into traffic. They can be manufactured in a variety of colors, but a bright, high-contrast color like yellow is often chosen because it adds an additional visual cue for fully or partially sighted individuals.

Find Durable, Compliant Tactile Warning Panel Products at ADA Solutions

At ADA Solutions, we manufacture a range of ADA-compliant detectable warning surface products to suit a variety of applications. Choose from products like surface-applied, cast-in-place, and cast-in-place replaceable tiles, as well as radius systems for curved areas, extra-durable cast iron surfaces, replaceable graphic tiles, photoluminescent systems, and convenient way-finding surfaces.

Whether you’re laying new walkways for a new project or need to quickly retrofit existing sidewalks with surface-applied tiles, we offer expertly manufactured, slip-resistant, long-lasting tactile warning products to help you meet government requirements and protect pedestrians on your property.

To learn more about the ADA requirements or discuss your detectable warning surface needs, call us today at 1-800-372-0519. You can also request a free quote online.
Sources:

  1. https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety