Touchless buttons at pedestrian crossings will have braille text & emit sound
After trials lasting more than two years, touchless buttons will be installed at all signallised pedestrian crossings in Singapore.
They can be activated by simply waving at them.
Source: Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving on Facebook
Push buttons to be replaced by touchless buttons at crossings
In a Facebook reel posted on Sunday (20 Oct), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the current push buttons at pedestrian crossings would be upgraded.
The push buttons, used by pedestrians to summon the “Green Man”, are often pushed repeatedly in the mistaken belief that this would cause the light to change more quickly.
However, doing so will cause the buttons to wear out faster and cut their expected lifespan.
Trial of touchless buttons at four crossings started in 2022
Thus, a trial for touchless buttons started in 2022, testing both infrared and microwave sensors.
LTA said in July 2022 that touchless buttons had been installed at four pedestrian crossings in Singapore.
Another trial was conducted from Aug 2023 at four other crossings.
Both infrared and microwave sensors passed the tests for reliability and performance, but the microwave ones performed better, LTA said.
Source: Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving on Facebook
They could also automatically adapt to environmental changes.
Touchless buttons will be easy to use
According to LTA, the touchless buttons have features that will make them easy to identify and use.
There will be a logo of a waving hand on the button and a message above saying “Wave For Green Man”.
All pedestrians need to do is wave their hand in front of the button, and a red light will start blinking, and continue flashing to show that it has been activated.
Source: Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving on Facebook
For visually impaired pedestrians, the touchless sensors will have braille text indicating, “touch to activate”.
Once activated, they will also emit a sound that will alert them that their intention to cross has been registered.
Upgrading works expected to take six years
Works to upgrade the buttons will be progressively completed over six years from the fourth quarter of 2025.
There are more than 11,000 buttons in Singapore at present, LTA said in 2022.
Also read: 4 Pedestrian Crossings Will Have Touchless Buttons, Just Wave To Activate ‘Green Man’
4 Pedestrian Crossings Will Have Touchless Buttons, Just Wave To Activate ‘Green Man’
Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.
Featured image adapted from Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving on Facebook.
