LED Safety Tactiles are a Tactile Ground Surface Indicator (TGSI) that incorporates LED lights. The colour of the in-ground LED’s changes to match the red/green phases of the pedestrian signals. They improve safety for distracted pedestrians and “mobile phone zombies”.
How THEY work
Vivacity LED Safety Tactiles are larger, closer and more easily seen than standard pedestrian lanterns in traffic signals
Research by Vivacity found that pedestrians felt safer at intersections where the in-ground LED Safety Tactiles replace standard Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (TGSI). Traditional TGSI provide a visual and tactile cue to the presence of a hazard, for people with a sight impairment. In addition to the features and benefits of standard TGSI, the Vivacity LED Safety Tactiles provide a benefit to all pedestrians by being significantly more visible than the small red/green ‘man’ pedestrian light positioned across the road. They relocate the critical safety message from the red or green light located across the road, to the same side of the road as the pedestrian.
“This is a great improvement for those living with low vision and we welcome the introduction of these…”
Adam English, Vision Australia
An advanced type of in-ground footpath LED illuminated tactile, Vivacity LED Safety Tactiles are connected to a nearby traffic light for power and synchronisation with the traffic light’s control system. They can also be linked to other control mechanisms, such as automated or electrically controlled gates, or standalone in a flashing or steady light mode in other applications.
Vivacity LED Safety Tactiles have been developed for Australian conditions. They are brighter during the day so they can be seen on bright sunny days, but dim at night to reduce glare. They’ve been strengthened for static and dynamic wheel loads arising from motorised footpath street-sweeping and cleaning vehicles used in major cities. They directly replace the existing TGSI before a hazard. They are category P5 slip-resistant.
The colour of the tactiles can be customised to match or contrast the surrounding footpath surface as required by the client for conformance with local regulations and guidelines (MOQ apply).
OmniGrip Direct is the accredited installer of Vivacity LED Safety Tactiles in Australia.
LED Safety Tactiles have been installed in Australia in:
- Melbourne CBD
- Bendigo CBD
- outside Trafalgar Railway Station
- Prahran, an inner suburb of Melbourne
- Sunshine Coast
- QUT, Brisbane.
In New Zealand they are installed in Marlow Park in Dunedin on the South Island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do LED footpath lights work?
The Vivacity LED Safety Tactile brings the vital road safety message of walk/don’t walk to where the pedestrian is standing. It is larger and more easily seen that the small red or green ‘man’ or hand symbol that is typically located across the width of the road. The LED Safety Tactile can be easily seen by people with varying abilities.
Vivacity LED Safety Tactiles are easier to see than the standard red/green ‘man’ across the road
A study in Melbourne found that people feel safer at the lights with the Vivacity LED Safety Tactile. A University study found the night-time benefit in reducing crashes and injuries in cities was more than fifty times the cost.
Do LED Safety Tactiles help people with vision impairments?
The Vivacity LED Safety Tactiles are big, bright and easy to see for people with a range of vision impairments and short sightedness.
Vision Australia’s Adam English said, “This is a great improvement for those living with low vision and we welcome the introduction of these into the regions. For people with low vision and who are short sighted, they would really benefit from the indicators.” (Bendigo Advertiser, 16 August 2021)
Do LED Safety Tactiles need to be installed at traffic lights?
Vivacity LED Safety Tactiles can be installed at any location where power is available. Connected to traffic lights they change colour to match the signal’s light phases. At unsignalised crossings, they can be a steady or flashing yellow to draw attention to the location of the crossing. The control box can receive a wide range of signals enabling the tactiles to be installed at tram stops, train station, railway level crossings, ferry terminals, and shopping centre and train station escalators.
Can LED Safety Tactiles affect the operation of the traffic lights?
The control box of the Vivacity LED Safety Tactiles is designed to prevent any malfunction, should it ever happen, affecting the operation of the connected traffic lights. It is a ‘one-way’ signal from the lights to the control box for the LED Safety Tactiles.
Will LED Safety Tactiles work if the area is flooded?
The Vivacity LED Safety Tactiles are IP rated and waterproof, with their design including submersion testing. Their cabling is designed to operate in wet conditions.
Are LED Safety Tactiles easily maintained?
The Vivacity LED Safety Tactiles have a replaceable top unit enabling a damaged tactile to be replaced in minutes by a suitably trained maintenance crew.
Do the LED Safety Tactiles distract drivers?
The LED Safety Tactiles are installed in dense urban areas in Melbourne and Bendigo, and a major regional highway at Trafalgar. When set into kerb ramps they are often fully or partially obscured to approaching vehicles. When compared to the multiple red, yellow and green traffic light lanterns facing drivers, the LED Safety Tactiles are less prominent. Their brightness can also be set to automatically dim at a specific time each evening.
Visibility of Vivacity LED Safety Tactiles to approaching drivers in evening
Visibility of Vivacity LED Safety Tactiles to approaching drivers at night
The Melbourne installation has been in place for several years and there’s been no complaints about distracted drivers.
Where are the Vivacity LED Safety Tactiles installed?
Vivacity LED Safety Tactiles (TGSI) are installed at the following locations:
Victoria, Australia
- Melbourne Town Hall
- Bendigo Mall
- Trafalgar Railway Station
- Chapel Street, Prahran
- Sunshine Coast
- QUT, Brisbane.
South Island, New Zealand
- Marlow Park in Dunedin, South Island.
have a question?
Call Gary on 1300 961 678 or email us using our contact form.
Applications
Wherever tactile ground surface indicators are used;
- Traffic Lights
- Road Pedestrian Crossings
- Train Line Pedestrian Crossings
- Level Crossings
- Train Platforms
- Tram Platforms
- Ferry Terminals
- Bus Stations and Bus Stops
- Escalators
- Scramble Crossings
- Barnes Crossings
Research
For copies of research related to LED Safety Tactiles (TGSI) please register on the following page. Once your email is confirmed you will receive an email with a link to the reports.
Guidelines
This video (1min 22s) is an overview of the Vivacity LED Safety Tactile.
The following video (31 mins) is a recording of a webinar that explains how the Vivacity LED Safety Tactile (TGSI) works, how it is installed and explains research into its effectiveness.
See the news report by WIN News covering the installation of the LED Safety Tactiles in Bendigo.
9News story covering the installation of LED Safety Tactiles on Swanston Street in Melbourne.
Victorian Transport Accident Commission (TAC) video about the installation of the LED Safety Tactiles in Swanston Street. The installation was funded by the TAC and Victorian Department of Transport.
The Victorian Department of Transport (VicRoads) promoted the installation of the LED Safety Tactiles as improving safety for vision impaired and distracted pedestrians, in their Instagram story in November 2021.
Vivacity LED safety Tactile (TGSI)
