VISION Australia has welcomed the introduction of new LED tactile pavings in Bendigo's city centre.
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The tactile paving are a ground surface treatment that change colour between red and green with the traffic lights, providing a clear signal for pedestrians when it's safe to cross the road.
Vision Australia regional client services manager Loddon Mallee Adam English said the pavings aid busy, distracted or vision impaired pedestrians.
"Any initiative like this that makes traffic lights easier to see for those with low vision are definitely a welcomed idea and would be supported by Vision Australia," he 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."
Mr English said it was great to see the pavings introduced and trialed in regional Victoria.
"These are relatively new and I only have really seen them in the CBD of Melbourne... this will be great for all members of the general public," he said.
"I think this will benefit people and will make it a lot safer particularly for those people who walk around on their mobile phones.
"It is great to see these initiatives spread into the regions and it helps make pathways and roads inclusive to everybody that uses them."
The new technology was installed by Regional Roads Victoria and is located at the intersection of Mitchell Street/Hargreaves Street and Hargreaves Mall.
Mitchell street was chosen as it is a high pedestrian activity zone that connects people to shops, restaurants and public transport.
Mr English said the pavings also help increase clients independence and allows them to travel further.
"From our perspective, any improvement to get people out and about is great and that is probably one of the number one challenges for people living with low vision is being out in the community so this will be a great thing," he said.
"They assist low vision Victorians by making the lights easier to see, thus making it safer for them to navigate independently.
"This can help broaden the scope of their route travelled, with the level of confidence they do need with that lower vision.
"To cross the road is a challenge anyway, if you have low vision or blindness that is a bigger issue but this really opens up the pathway further and we are delighted to see opportunity for these to come to regional Victoria as well."
Vision Australia Bendigo provides services within Victoria's largest health region of Loddon Mallee.
The organisation spans across all of central Victoria and the Loddon Mallee and are based in Bendigo.
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