Campaigners push for new technology on the buses to help blind passengers

Campaigners for blind and partially-sighted people will be out in Huddersfield today pushing for enhancements on the buses.

David Quarmby, 66, of Kirklees Visible Impairment Network, will sign up for other campaigners from the charitable organisation Guide Dogs collecting autographs on a petition.

The campaigners want all the “big five” bus companies to ensure sound visual announcement technology is actually installed on all new buses.

A few buses in parts of To the west Yorkshire, such as Leeds as well as Keighley, have the technology however services in other cities and cities don’t.

Which means blind and partially-sighted travellers have to rely on the car owner - or other people - to make sure they log off at the right stop.

Manual Dogs hope thousands of people across the nation will back the request to bus companies Very first, Arriva, Go Ahead, Stagecoach, and also National Express.

Guide canines Elton and OliviaGuide puppies Elton and Olivia

Campaigners will be in St George’s Square from 9. 30am and David said: “We need audio visual posters not just for visually damaged people but for everyone.

“They have them in Leeds, Keighley and London and we would like them everywhere. Bus motorists have enough to think about without having to keep in mind where someone needs to log off. ”

David, of Newsome, said he had first hand connection with the problem, once missing an end and ending up going down Calderdale Way into Elland along with having to catch a tour bus back, and another period when a conductor in Manchester thought he knew greatest and put him off the coach in a strange place without any one around to ask.

John added: “This isn’t a fiscal problem for the bus businesses. We are only talking about brand new buses not fitting this particular technology to existing busses. ”

In a survey through Guide Dogs, 65% associated with blind or partially-sighted individuals said they had missed their own stop a least as soon as in the last six months.

The charity’s community engagement officer Debbie Linford said: “Almost 2 million people in the UK reside with sight loss. Through 2050 this will have bending.

“Too many passengers continue to be being forgotten, ending up dropped and disorientated. As the business leaders, we are hoping the actual ‘big five’ will pay attention to our call and set the conventional for all bus companies. ”

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