If you've walked along a busy street or taken a subway or train recently, you may have noticed some yellow (or other brightly colored strips) along the edges these are tactile warnings.

Tactile warnings are also known as Detectable Warning Systems. These truncated dome surfaces are now required by the ADA (American’s with Disabilities Act) to serve as warnings for people with impaired vision when approaching hazardous areas of traffic. Tactile warnings are rapidly being adopted worldwide as well, for the same purpose. This is true even in countries like Japan where there is no legislation to protect the rights of people with disabilities.

The requirements for tactile warnings are: they must have a distinct color variation from the surrounding surface area, they must have a distinct ‘feel’ to them (hence the truncated dome style), they must make a distinct sound when walked on, they must not be a trip hazard, and they must be slip resistant. Likewise, there are specific measurements to tactile warnings as per ADA standards. They are: the base of the dome must have a diameter between .9 and 1.4 inches, the size of the dome tops must be at a minimum, 50% of the base diameter and a maximum of 65%, and each dome must be exactly .2 inches.

Materials for the composition of tactile warnings include rubber, cast iron, or stainless steel. Some have argued however, that rubber and cast iron do not have a lasting color finish and require more maintenance than their stainless steel counterpart.
           
Regardless, tactile warnings are both a technology and a requirement that is helping countless people live safer lives with greater mobility.

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