Inclusive Mobility: Safer Roads for Everyone in Kuopio, Finland
As we navigate our daily errands, the intersections we cross are designed to make our journeys safer, quicker, and more convenient. Devices like pedestrian lights, crosswalks and guiding signs have served us effectively for decades. However, these tools rely on visual stimuli, which are not accessible to everyone. For the estimated 250 million people worldwide with moderate to severe visual impairments—including 36 million who are completely blind—these aids often fall short of ensuring safe and independent mobility.
We at SWARCO believe that fairness and equity must be at the forefront of modern transportation solutions. Supporting the needs of visually impaired and vulnerable road users is not just a responsibility—it aligns with our vision of making "The Better Way. Every Day" an experience for everyone.
Therefore, we have launched an innovative pilot project in the city of Kuopio, Finland. This pilot intersection represents a significant step toward inclusive mobility, integrating advanced traffic technology to enhance independence and safety for visually impaired citizens. By utilizing standard interfaces, the solution is designed to connect with multiple app providers, making it adaptable to various user preferences.
How does it work?
At this pilot intersection, we integrated our traffic data into a self-voicing navigation app Blindsquare developed by Mipsoft (www.blindsquare.com), creating a seamless and inclusive travel experience:
In-app green requests: The app enables visually impaired users to manually request a green light at intersections through a virtual pushbutton, eliminating the need for physical interaction.
Voice guidance: Both the app and intersection pushbuttons provide real-time voice guidance, delivering clear instructions on when it is safe to cross.
Adaptive and extended green light durations: Once the visually impaired person is identified in the crossing via the app, the system automatically extends the green light duration, ensuring a safe and stress-free crossing experience.
Real-time traffic signal status: The app informs the user about the current signal status and gives a prompt when it changes. This feature enables the user to cross the intersection with confidence.
Designed in collaboration with those who need it most
To ensure the solution truly addresses the needs of visually impaired individuals, our project team collaborated closely with members of the visually impaired community throughout the development and testing phases. By incorporating their insights and real-world experiences, the pilot intersection has been tailored to provide practical and meaningful benefits.
One of the visually impaired users who has thoroughly tested the pilot intersection, describes how it feels to use our solution and the value it adds:
“Especially downtown, noise often drowns out sound signals at traffic lights, making it hard to know when to cross. A guide dog can’t recognize green lights, and not all intersections have sound signals. Road conditions also slow movement, especially without a guide dog. So, for me, the solution was a relief—clear sound signals indicated safe crossing, and the green light lasted long enough. I no longer have to wonder if I heard the signals from the environment correctly. You don't have to look for the button on a pole or try to figure out if there are any push buttons at the intersection. Using a smartwatch makes it even easier, and I see great benefits for others, like wheelchair users who can’t always press the button.”
Empowering independence and safety
The opportunity to connect tools like self-voicing apps to our products and solutions and thus exchanging detailed information about points of interest and intersections is enabling safe and reliable travel outdoors. This integration with our devices opens new doors to independence for visually impaired individuals, allowing them to navigate urban environments with confidence.
Driving inclusive mobility forward
With the implementation of this pilot intersection, we at SWARCO aim to address a critical gap in mobility solutions for visually impaired road users. This initiative demonstrates our commitment to equitable transportation and allows us to test the solution in real-life settings, gathering valuable feedback from users to refine and scale the technology.
The success of this project signals a promising future for the adoption of inclusive mobility solutions worldwide. By prioritizing accessibility and innovation, we are paving the way for safer, smarter roads enabling The Better Way. Everyday. For Everyone.