Shikoku Island Town Trials New Pedestrian Crossing for Visually Impaired

Extract from The Yomiuri Shimbun

March 19 2026

KAGAWA – A pedestrian crossing built to a new standard with wider spacing between white lines than before was introduced this month at an intersection near JR Takase Station in Takase Town, Mitoyo City, the first such installation in Shikoku. On the 18th, the prefectural police invited visually impaired people and others to walk across it and share their feedback.

In July 2024, related laws on road markings were partially revised, making it possible to widen the spacing between white lines from the previous 45–50 centimeters to as much as 90 centimeters. This is expected to reduce maintenance costs, as it can lessen deterioration caused by vehicle traffic.

According to the prefectural police Traffic Regulation Division, visually impaired people sometimes rely on the thickness of the white lines when walking. For this reason, crosswalks with wider spacing are often equipped with an “escort zone” – a slightly textured surface that safely guides pedestrians – and this feature was also installed in this case.

About 45 people, including members of the visually impaired group “Mitoyo Visual Impairment Support Center Hikari,” took part in the trial event. The group’s chairman, Takaaki Uemura, praised the crossing, saying, “Because of the escort zone, I was able to walk straight within the crosswalk and felt reassured.” Akihiro Manabe, assistant head of the division, said, “We hope the new-standard crosswalk will contribute to creating a barrier-free environment.”