Transportation

USA: NHTSA believes its proposed rule will make life a lot easier for people with disabilities, especially those using a wheelchair. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Monday proposed a new rule that should make mobility far more accessible to those living with disabilities, especially those using a wheelchair. The government… Continue Reading »

Micromobility firm Tier will add artificial warning sounds to its fleet of e-scooters to alert blind and partially sighted people of their approach. The European e-scooter operator said it plans to roll the sound alert out across its vehicles in 2021.  Tier is working with national charity Thomas Pocklington Trust,… Continue Reading »

AUSTRALIA: The Queensland state government has established a new Accessible Transport Advisory Council to give input on accessibility for transport projects around the state. The Council would advocate on behalf of those with vision, hearing, physical, or cognitive impairments, as well as older people, parents, and youth justice groups. The… Continue Reading »

New measures designed to help the five percent of drivers with a disability include guides to motorway service areas with 360-degree images. Highways England plans to make it easier for disabled motorists to use UK motorways and A-roads. More than 100 service areas will be assessed on the accessibility of… Continue Reading »

INDIA: National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) has announced the 11th edition of NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Awards 2020 to honour contributions towards the cause of accessibility and universal design. Nominations for the NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Awards are now open. This is a prestigious award given nationally every year to people who are… Continue Reading »

SCOTLAND: The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) has published guidance for transport operators to ensure that changes to public transport services during Covid-19 take into account disabled people’s needs. The guidance emphasises that the 2010 Equality Act continues to apply and so the impacts on disabled people of any… Continue Reading »

South Africa tests access features in rough terrain Prototype bus would enhance mobility for school children, others with special needs Even prior to the current pandemic, more than half a million children with disabilities were estimated to be out of school in South Africa. Lack of transport to school is… Continue Reading »

People with a disability are exempt from the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Brussels, the regional government has recently decided. Since the LEZ’ introduction, almost 15,000 fines have been issued, although the number of violations has decreased a lot recently. In December 2019, about 75% of violations were recorded compared to January… Continue Reading »

The Inclusive Design Challenge is seeking automated vehicle (AV) solutions that are designed to be more accessible to people with disabilities. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has opened Stage I of the Inclusive Design Challenge, a national prize competition seeking design solutions to make future automated vehicles (AVs) more accessible… Continue Reading »

INDIA: Wheelchair taxi service company Ezy Mov has started a transportation service for people with mobility impairments in need of dialysis treatment. This is available in select parts of Mumbai until 30 April. For physically disabled people in regular need of dialysis treatment, the coronavirus or COVID-19 lockdown is especially stressful. Ezy… Continue Reading »