[nagdu] Audible Traffic Signals

Thu Mar 25 13:07:45 UTC 2010

We have to rely on our own mobility skills.  

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> From: info at michaelhingson.com
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2010 05:59:43 -0700
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Audible Traffic Signals
> 
> I must add in my two cents here. NO audible traffic signal will tell me as
> a blind person when it is "ok to cross". All the signal tells me is that
> the light has turned in my favor.
> 
> There are all too many instances of drivers not obeying traffic lights.
> Hearing an audible cue and then using that cue to decide to cross is a
> dangerous concept in this driver society. Without audible engine noises,
> something which should be mandated on all vehicles, I cannot be sure that it
> is safe to cross a street.
> 
> 
> The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
>      “Speaking with Vision”
>                  Michael Hingson, President
>                          (415) 827-4084
>                    info at michaelhingson.com
>                    www.michaelhingson.com
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> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Albert J Rizzi
> Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2010 4:57 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Audible Traffic Signals
> 
> Marion, 
> the audible signal is of course for the pedestrians . the vehicles 
> already have an effective cue to stop and go. The audible sign would at
> least be a way to combat those hybrid cars with the silent engines. if we
> were and if all others were able to depend on a reliable audible signal to
> let us know it is ok to cross, coupled with effective pedestrian laws, the
> hybrid cars would only present issues at areas with stop signs and not at
> busy intersections. How did you infer that I suggested the audible signs
> could impact the safe use of a car? The safe driver makes that choice and I
> have yet to learn about a device that could ensure a drivers safe operation
> of a vehicle.
> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York 10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
> doing it."
> 
> 
> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Marion Gwizdala
> Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2010 6:48 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] Audible Traffic Signals
> 
> Albert,
> Audible traffic signals have absolutely no effect on the safe operation 
> of a vehicle. Now, in St. Petersburg, Florida, they have a pretty good idea.
> 
> They have a pedestrian crossing sign near the trafic signal. When a 
> pedestrian activates the crosswalk signal, a yellow light flashes within the
> 
> sign to alert the driver that a pedestrian is crossing.
> 
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2010 1:07 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] White Cane laws
> 
> 
> > Now in reaction to the hybrid cars which are environmentally friendly and
> > very quiet, why are we not mobilizing the forces to require that urban
> > planners and departments of roads or transportation or what ever 
> > department
> > it is that regulates crossing signs start using audible crossing signs as 
> > is
> > done in many European cities. I hear tell of how the infrastructure is to
> > old and to costly to work with, yet I would think that Paris and London 
> > are
> > much older cities then any of ours and they some how were able to bridge
> > that gap. Would be another great focus of our community to work together 
> > to
> > effect if you ask me.
> >
> > Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> > CEO/Founder
> > My Blind Spot, Inc.
> > 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> > New York, New York 10004
> > www.myblindspot.org
> > PH: 917-553-0347
> > Fax: 212-858-5759
> > "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
> > doing it."
> >
> >
> > Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> > Of Jewel S.
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 11:33 PM
> > To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] White Cane laws
> >
> > Here, here!
> >
> > I have been hit by a car, albeit a very slow moving car, so I was not
> > injured very much at all. The car was backing out of a parking spot
> > after telling me to go ahead. He didn't look where he was going, and
> > his bumper struck me before I knew what was going on. I beat the trunk
> > with my cane and shouted at him, trying to scuttle out of the way (not
> > easy for me), but he would not stop. I would have fallen if someone
> > hadn't run up and caught me and another man knocked on the driver's
> > window, the idiot. I told them to get the license plate number, but
> > they did not. I was very upset. This was also a quiet car.
> >
> > The Quiet Car Bill is something I have been watching very closely. It
> > is almost passed through to law. It is getting sooo close. When it
> > does pass, the government will be required to do a survery and figure
> > out a way for quiet cars to produce the sound needed by pedestrians.
> >
> > I am very sorry about the loss of your guide dog, friend, and the
> > injury of your other friend. Your story is one of the many very real
> > reasons why the White Cane Laws were ut in place in the first place,
> > to save lives.
> >
> > How many lives must be taken before the laws are enforced?
> > ~Jewel
> >
> > On 3/24/10, Albert J Rizzi <albert at myblindspot.org> wrote:
> >> Here here!
> >>
> >> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> >> CEO/Founder
> >> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> >> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> >> New York, New York 10004
> >> www.myblindspot.org
> >> PH: 917-553-0347
> >> Fax: 212-858-5759
> >> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who 
> >> is
> >> doing it."
> >>
> >>
> >> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> >> Behalf
> >> Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
> >> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 1:07 PM
> >> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> >> Subject: Re: [nagdu] White Cane laws
> >>
> >> Tracy,
> >>
> >> I'm so sorry! I didn't know that had happened to you. It must have been
> >> awful for a long, long time after the fact. And I'm sure whatever
> > recourse
> >> you received was not worth the loss. I'm glad you're well and still
> > living
> >> your life.
> >>
> >> While I am glad the white cane laws and pedestrian laws underlying them 
> >> do
> >> give me some added rights and protections. Greater awareness and greater
> >> enforcement does and will give us better odds of traveling safely through
> >> our daily lives.
> >>
> >> There will still be those people who disengage brain before turning key,
> > but
> >> the more drivers who are aware of the law, of their responsibilities as
> >> drivers, and of the consequences of their not taking their
> > responsibilities
> >> seriously when they're behind the wheel, the better off we'll all be.
> >>
> >> Tami Smith-Kinney
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> >> Behalf
> >> Of Tracy Carcione
> >> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 5:23 AM
> >> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> >> Subject: [nagdu] White Cane laws
> >>
> >> Could we possibly get back to discussing better enforcement of White Cane
> >> laws, and drop all the sniping? Or is it the concensus that the White
> >> Cane laws are outmoded, and we should just let them drop and ignore them?
> >> I'm not asking for someone else to be responsible for my safety, but I am
> >> asking that the drivers take their share of responsibility. They are the
> >> ones in charge of the vehicle that is a lot faster and heavier than I am.
> >> I am especially concerned with new quieter cars becoming more common.
> >> I've lost count of the times my dog has stopped short, then I've heard 
> >> the
> >> car whizzing by in front of us.
> >>
> >> I personally know 3 people who've been hit. One was crossing with the
> >> light when a bus turned on top of her, and she was killed. One was
> >> crossing a quiet street, when some old fool came speeding around a blind
> >> corner and hit her. Now she has to use a wheelchair. And one was me,
> >> trying to cross a street to get home during an ice storm. There wasn't
> >> enough traffic, and there wasn't anyone around to ask, and I probably
> >> misjudged the traffic light. My dog was killed.
> >>
> >> Two of these accidents could have been avoided, if the driver were paying
> >> propper attention. We have laws on the books that say they should be
> >> particularly careful when a blind pedestrian is in the street. I'd like
> >> to see greater awareness of those laws. It doesn't seem so much to ask,
> >> to save a life.
> >> Tracy
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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