Hong Kong upgrades crossings with talking signals and an app for blind pedestrians

More than 800 pedestrian crossings in Hong Kong, about 40 per cent of the total, had upgraded electronic audible traffic signals by August, the Transport Department said, OpenGov Asia reported. About 2,000 junctions should be finished by late 2027.

Introduced since April 2025, the new devices announce street names in Cantonese, Putonghua and English and carry tactile maps showing road layouts, including tram tracks. Upgrades have been prioritised in districts with more visually impaired residents, such as Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong.

Designed with users

Consultation with visually impaired users began in 2017 and shaped the location announcements and volume controls. To limit noise, devices lower their output by up to five decibels at night, but users can raise the volume with a remote control or a mobile app. The government is distributing 15,000 remotes through support organisations, with a one-off boost and a 20-minute mode for longer journeys.

"Just imagine: a visually impaired person steps out of their building, and the first thing they have to do is to cross the road," said Lee Kai-tak, a long-time user. "If we dread stepping off the kerb, with nothing to help us, where do we find the courage to face a new life?"

Gordon Kwok, the department's chief engineer for traffic control, said the adjustable volume balances accessibility with residents' concerns about noise.

Small digital, big effect

The upgrade is a good example of digital features added to physical infrastructure in response to users. Spoken locations and a phone control cost little per crossing, but for a blind pedestrian they turn an unfamiliar junction into one they can cross alone.