Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is using innovative, state-of-the art Smart Barriers to help blind and visually-impaired people stay safe around its essential excavations. The barriers, which have been designed and manufactured in the UK by Cusacks, are being used for the first time as part of SSEN's £2m upgrade to the local network in Petersfield.
Customers who have difficulty with their sight can download a free phone app, called Streetworks, that picks up the position of the barriers via GPS satellite tracking; once the phone picks up the barrier's location, it will give different sounding 'pings' at the start and end of the barriers, helping to keep the customers safe and let them know which way they should go.
Chris Slingsby, SSEN's Head of Customer Operations for the South East Region, said: "We want to ensure the public are safe in areas where we are carrying out essential work. We realise that during work on the roads and pavements in busy town centres it can be particularly challenging for blind and partially-sighted members of the community to go about their day-to-day business, and that is why we are using these Smart Barriers for the very first time."