Accessible Pedestrian Crossings
Accessible pedestrian signals (APS) use sounds and vibrations to help communicate intersection signals if you are affected by any form of visual or hearing impairment.
Using accessible pedestrian signals
APS are linked to "walk/don't walk" lights. Two sounds are used to point out the direction of traffic and which light is on:
- A cuckoo sound tells you when the walk symbol is on and you have right-of-way going north or south.
- A Canadian melody sound tells you when you have right-of-way going east or west.
A pedestrian clearing tone and the "don't walk" light is turned on after these sounds end.
Using APS buttons
You must press the button for five seconds to activate the APS. They will activate on the next cycle and you will hear a pop from the button. The pop sound means the APS is active.
The buttons have a third sound called a locator tone. The tone allows you to find the button if you are affected by any visual impairments.
The APS and locator tones change their volume. The volume goes up if there is a lot of traffic. It goes down if there is little.
Buttons in Durham Region have a raised arrow that points in the direction of the crossing. It vibrates when the APS are activated.
APS requests
You can request accessible pedestrian signals from the Regional Accessibility Advisory Committee. You can reach us at 905-668-7711 extension. 2009, or by email.
The Region has a program to install APS at crossings that have signal lights. The Canadian Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and the Regional Accessibility Advisory Committee rank locations.
APS locations
Ajax |
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Clarington |
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Oshawa |
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Pickering |
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Scugog
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Whitby |
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Uxbridge |
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Contact Us
Traffic Operations Centre
101 Consumers Dr.
Whitby, ON L1N 6A3
T.: 905-666-8116
Toll Free:: 1-866-786-8116
F.: 905-666-8826
Email the Traffic Operations Centre