Polara

We're honored to support the Southeastern Orientation & Mobility Association and attend the SOMA O&M Conference in Alabama this weekend. Catch Chris Holloway in action, showing how to use Polara's free PedApp to access audible crossing info and activate pedestrian signals right from your smartphone. Swing by Polara's table to give it a whirl!

Super proud of how UDOT is using Polara solutions to prioritize ALL pedestrian needs in their pedestrian safety improvements. #pedestriansafety #pedsafety #trafficsignals #trafficengineering

We're thrilled to be in Seattle this week and support the NATIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE AGENCIES FOR THE BLIND INC in their mission to advocate for and coordinate specialized services that empower individuals who are blind or visually impaired to achieve independence. Matthew Baker will be at Polara's table demonstrating our PedApp, a free mobile app that lets you activate pedestrian signals and access audible crossing information from your smartphone. Stop by and give it a try.

"Crosswalks with this type of technology can help people with varying disabilities safely, confidently, and independently cross streets, Utah Department of Transportation said." At Polara, we’re on a mission to make crossings safer and accessible for ALL pedestrians. Our iDS crosswalk buttons can be activated not only by a push of a button, but a wave of the hand or nod of the head for those with limited mobility. We also designed the PedApp mobile app so pedestrians can activate crosswalk buttons from their phones with assistive technology. See how UDOT is using iDS buttons and the PedApp to make their streets more accessible: https://lnkd.in/gMjDzYTk #PedestrianSafetyMonth #PedestrianSafety #accessibility #TrafficSignals

As a reminder to drivers to slow down and watch for pedestrians, MDOT recently reported that Mississippi has the sixth-highest pedestrian fatality rate per 100,000 population. At Polara, we’re on a mission to make crossings safer for all pedestrians. Join us at booth #37 at the Gulf Region Intelligent Transportation Society Annual Meeting next week in Biloxi, MS, to explore our APS solutions designed to assist pedestrians with blindness or low vision in navigating crossings safely. Can't make the show? We made a guide all about APS safety applications, download it here: https://lnkd.in/gzU-cdnK

How do people with vision disabilities cross the street? With limited or no visual information, pedestrians with vision disabilities must use other techniques to evaluate the intersection and cross, navigating by hearing and touch. If there is a properly installed Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS), a locator tone alerts the pedestrian to the presence of a crossing and the raised arrow on the APS button is aligned with the associated crosswalk. APS provide essential information to pedestrians who are blind or who have low vision by alerting them to the status of the walk cycle without visual cues. For people who also have hearing disabilities, the arrow on the APS button vibrates for the WALK phase. Learn how to make your crosswalk more accessible with The Ultimate APS Application Guide: https://lnkd.in/gzU-cdnK #PedestrianSafety #Accessibility #TrafficSignals #PROWAG #MUTCD

Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) give pedestrians 3-7 seconds head start to begin their crossing before the parallel green light, allowing them to enter the crosswalk before turning vehicles begin to move. But blind pedestrians cannot benefit from the additional LPI crossing time if it is only communicated visually, and cross after the Walk sign has ended 15-38% of the time. Drivers may not expect blind pedestrians to begin crossing late, causing potentially fatal conflicts. Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) should be installed wherever leading pedestrian intervals are implemented. Blind pedestrians use the APS audible and vibrating WALK signal to know when to cross, allowing them to benefit from the extra crossing time from the LPI and cross in greater safety. See more examples of APS applications in The Ultimate APS Application Guide: https://lnkd.in/gzU-cdnK #PedestrianSafety #Accessibility #TrafficSignals #PROWAG #MUTCD

PROWAG mandates push buttons with specific accessibility features anywhere a pedestrian signal or pedestrian-activated warning device is provided. With the final rule published in 2023 and the DOJ and USDOT soon to adopt, we’ve included all PROWAG requirements for APS in The Ultimate APS Application Guide. Future proof your city and download the guide today: https://lnkd.in/gzU-cdnK #PedestrianSafety #Accessibility #TrafficSignals #PROWAG #MUTCD

The MUTCD has been described as the bible of American road design. It prescribes what is – and isn’t – acceptable when it comes to signs, signals, markings, and other traffic control elements. You could go page through the 1161-page manual for your APS-specific inquiry... or you could download the 27-page Ultimate APS Application Guide including all MUTCD APS requirements and spend more time designing and implementing accessible, inclusive intersections. Download the guide here: https://lnkd.in/gzU-cdnK #PedestrianSafety #Accessibility #TrafficSignals #PROWAG #MUTCD

Introducing Polara’s latest crosswalk resource: The Ultimate APS Application Guide Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) must comply with numerous federal and state laws and requirements. Rather than searching through endless regulations and manuals, we’ve condensed all essential information into a single, comprehensive guide. What’s Inside? ✅MUTCD/PROWAG requirements ✅Regulations for APS ✅Best practices for APS crosswalk systems ✅Examples of APS applications Working to create an accessible, inclusive crosswalk? Grab your copy now: https://lnkd.in/gzU-cdnK #PedestrianSafety #Accessibility #TrafficSignals #PROWAG #MUTCD