BLIND and partially sighted bus passengers in Oxford can now rely on audio announcements to tell them when they have arrived at their destination.

Instead of asking the driver when to get off, they can wait to hear the name of their stop thanks to a new GPS system. It is installed on 11 buses recently added to the Oxford Bus Company’s City5 route.

With a previous version of the technology already in use in 14 of the company’s vehicles, this means a quarter of the firm’s buses now cater to the needs of blind and partially sighted travellers.

Mark Jones, equalities officer at Bus Users Oxford, who usually counts the stops to know when he has to get off, said: “The audible announcements are useful for myself and my wife. With them, we don’t have to count the stops any more. It gives us more confidence.”

Two-thirds of blind and partially sighted passengers missed their stop in the past six months, according to a 2014 survey by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. As the equipment becomes less expensive, the audio announcements should be featured in more buses in the future.

Oxford Bus Company commercial manager Andrew Morison said: “Costs held us back previously, but we are now committed to install them in all vehicles purchased going forward. Buses are a lifeline for people with disabilities, so the more we can cater for them, the better.”

Instead of a computer-generated voice, the messages were recorded professionally by a woman.

“It’s so much clearer,” said Mr Morison. “Computerised voices don’t sound like people. They sound like robots.”

Deborah Whelan, chairwoman of the Oxfordshire Transport and Access Group, said: “We get 10 million visitors a year in Oxford. It’s important that people’s experience of the city is as inclusive as can be.”

Different colours have also been attributed to certain routes to help partially sighted passengers, who can make out colours but not letters.

Joel Young, a member of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, said: “The audio-visual announcements are very useful. It’s the way forward. People miss hospital appointments and social occasions. This gives them more independence and more confidence.”