Photo of a long cane user approaching some disorderly roadworks

"I walked out and there were roadworks. I didn't know what to do so I just went home"

Long Cane User, Bermondsey

Photo of a roadworks set up featuring a new sign plus a yellow and black triangle pattern and tactile dots on the pedestrian side of the barriers

Less disruptive roadworks for everyone

The Sight Line system makes roadworks easier to deal with for everyone, particularly people with vision impairment

Photo of a long cane user following a line of tactile dots through a roadworks site

Visual and tactile reassurance

A new design of pedestrian sign along with modifications to the barriers solves a series of problems for people with sight loss

Photo of an app displaying different options for roadworks configuration next to a digital map with a pin featuring a text description of a roadworks site

Digital information

A digital information layer delivers details of roadworks in real time

The Sight Line system makes roadworks easier to deal with for everyone, particularly people with vision impairment. It is a simple set of physical changes to the signs and barriers used to indicated roadworks to make them easier to understand. The system also includes a digital layer which can provide more detailed information and warning of roadworks you may be approaching. This video explains a bit more about it.

Sight Line: safer streetworks for all

The design of the system is based on insights from shadowing seven people with sight loss as they negotiated a series of real-world roadworks sites. Road workers were also shadowed to understand their procedures and requirements of their equipment.

Composite of photos of VIPs negotiating roadworks and quotations

Design ideas were prototyped and feedback from people with vision impairment, road workers, engineers, civil servants and mobility trainers was gathered and integrated into further iterations of the design.

Photograph of a set of roadworks signs and barriers set up inside with a symbol cane user passing through

The system was tested on a real street by 13 people with sight loss, 11 of whom found it to be an improvement over the existing equipment. We are currently looking for partners to help run an pilot of the system in day-to day use.

Photograph of a guide dog user approaching a modified set of roadworks

The Sight Line system was created in partnership with the Royal London Society for Blind People and the Royal College of Art Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design.

Logos of the RLSB and Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design