Absence of flush kerbs and correct tactile paving

When carrying out site visits, the same accessibility issues can be identified by the auditors with monotonous regularity.  The absence of flush kerbs and incorrect tactile paving are typical scenarios that can be encountered. 

Absence of flush kerbs and correct tactile paving

Absence of flush kerbs

The absence of flush dropped kerbs, together with the lack of the correct tactile paving, is one of the most frequent hazards identified by auditors.

It is essential that flush kerbs and other specified hazards should have the appropriate tactile surface to alert visually impaired pedestrians.

Lack of correct tactile paving

Most designers are now coming to terms with the correct use of tactile paving, but this has not always been the case and accessibility auditors still identify many examples of incorrect and misleading tactile surfaces at crossings, steps, shared footway and cycle tracks etc. 

The photo above illustrates that tactile paving can often be disrupted by service chamber access covers, making it ineffective for many road users.