Safer Streets Campaign

Advertising boards and hedges, scaffolding to wheelie bins
Guide Dogs launches A-Z Guide to Obstacles

Over one million blind and partially-sighted people risk serious injury every time they walk in pedestrian areas. Guide Dogs therefore launched an A-Z Guide to Street Obstacles, during its Safer Streets campaign for blind and partially-sighted people.

The A-Z publication features a pop-up pavement, with three-dimensional pedestrian obstructions - Slalom Street. It offers practical suggestions for an obstacle-free alternative, including cutting back overhanging hedges, and avoiding blocked walkways by removing badly positioned A-boards and wheelie bins.

An image of a black labrador guide dog guiding his owner around a wheelie bin.

Tom Pey, Guide Dogs' Director of Policy, explains: "We know of cases where visually-impaired people have received serious facial injuries from sharp, overhanging branches, or have stumbled on uneven pavements. Frequently we hear of clients walking into A-boards, whilst others have been forced into the road - close to traffic they cannot see - because cars are parked, blocking pavements.

"We're working with local authorities, MPs, retailers, drivers and other residents to make a difference."

Suggestions for an obstacle-free alternative include:

Regularly trimming back branches that overhang pavements.
Trying to find an alternative parking area that doesn't involve blocking walkways.
Wheelie bins should be left in driveways where possible, ensuring pedestrian areas remain clear.
Reflective white stripes on bins highlight them to people with limited vision.
A-boards and shop displays should be positioned in designated areas, which don't obstruct pedestrians.
The Guide appeals to litter-louts: broken glass might cut guide dogs' paws and chewing gum can stick in dogs' hair.
Contractors should ensure pavements are level, that barriers surround roadworks, whilst ensuring alternative safe walking routes.
Cyclists should use Bicycle Tracks where available, avoid riding on the pavement, or abandoning their bikes outside the entrance to shops.

Please find below a wealth of supporting materials for this campaign including: a survey of guide dog owners taken to establish which obstacles caused the greatest problems; a shell letter for visually-impaired people who have a concern to send to their Council Highways Department; extracts from the Highways Act (1980) concerning street obstacles and much more.

Safer Streets survey of guide dog owners - summary

Top of the Probs Chart

A-Z Guide to Obstacles (2D example of publication) (PDF, 669 KB)

Highways Act (1980) (word 26 KB)In Scotland, the 'The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984' gives similar legislative powers to deal with pedestrian hazards.

Shell letter (for guide dogs owners use to Highways Department) (word 26 KB)

Press release (word 47 KB)A-Z of obstacles (word 56KB)

National Walking Strategy - (pdf 332 KB) Guide Dogs is commissioning a group of leading experts to prepare its National Walking Strategy and Action Plan. We hope the Government will act on the recommendations for the benefit of all pedestrians.

For a copy of the A-Z Guide to Obstacles, or further information, e-mail chris.dyson@guidedogs.org.uk or phone 0118 983 8281.

These cartoons include serious messages. Please help to remove pedestrian obstacles and make the streets safer for blind and partially sighted people.