An observational study of pedestrian use of curb ramps was undertaken following the air step, fall and severe injury of a woman who stepped from the flared side of a curb ramp after mistaking it for the curb ramp itself. Her error apparently stemmed from using the red-painted curbs flanking the curb ramp as navigation cues for safe passage. The study found that painting the flared sides of the curb ramp red, to match the flanking curb and to contrast with the curb ramp, resulted in more people using the curb ramp, rather than stepping off the flared side of the curb ramp. Implications for painting curb ramps and for modifying existing regulations and standards are discussed.
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