[NAGDU] audible traffic signals

Mon Sep 20 20:07:04 UTC 2021

I want to echo some of what has been said here. I have found APS to be very helpful especially in certain circumstances and they definitely make me feel more secure when crossing at times. However, you absolutely still have to listen to your traffic not only because some drivers don’t' do what they are supposed to, but because you might have drivers who are legally allowed to turn but are supposed to yield to pedestrians. Since they may not be paying attention to the possibility of a pedestrian, we have to be on our guard and follow our dogs the best we can. If it was always as easy to do it as it is to say it, we wouldn’t need this topic. Glad it's been raised for discussion. That's my two cents for today.

Melissa

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Michael Hingson via NAGDU
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2021 3:31 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Michael Hingson <mike at michaelhingson.com>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] audible traffic signals

APS can be helpful, but they will not and cannot replace you listening to traffic. As Susan said, " It will signal you to cross when the traffic is hopefully doing the right thing, and drivers should expect pedestrians to cross". "Supposed" is the operative term here. As with sighted pedestrians, blind pedestrians cannot and should not rely totally on APS. All the signal tells you is that traffic direction should be in your favor. Especially today where drivers are paying less and less attention to pedestrian traffic we must be more vigilant.

An APS can be especially helpful on a wide street as typically, with signals on both sides of the street you can keep a better straight line across the street. However again, you as the pedestrian need to pay most attention to the traffic around you.

Best Regards,

Michael Hingson

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Susan Jones via NAGDU
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2021 12:20 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: sblanjones11 at sbcglobal.net
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] audible traffic signals

Good issue for discussion.

They now call them Accessible Pedestrian Signals, APS With a wide street like that, you definitely need one.  It will signal you to cross when the traffic is hopefully doing the right thing, and drivers should expect pedestrians to cross.
ACB has done a lot more with APS's than has the NFB.  I lobbied for one years ago, b/c we have a street in our neighborhood that is extremely busy, but the side streets are not, so you don't get any paralel traffic that would clue you that it's time to cross.
I feel much safer with that APS, though of course I listen for oncoming traffic as well.

Susan

sblanjones11 at sbcglobal.net

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of rebecca.young1264--- via NAGDU
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2021 2:55 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: rebecca.young1264 at outlook.com
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] audible traffic signals

Good afternoon. I don’t have problems crossing the streets with just normal listening to the traffic. However, where we live right now, we crossed a major 8 Lane Highway to get to the other side of our street. There is a push button light there, and I do use it. However the audible signal would be nice, just to make things a little bit easier. Because my parallel traffic is also A very busy street right there. Audible signals in certain places sometimes just make things a little easier.

Becky

> On Sep 20, 2021, at 1:44 PM, Richard via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi;
> 
> Just wondering what people's thoughts are concerning audible or 
> accessible traffic signals?  One magically appeared a few weeks ago at 
> a crossing I found difficult.  Previously I wasn't a big fan listening 
> to traffic should be enough.  I must admit that I have found them to 
> be a  nice plus.  Never thought I'd say that.
> 
> Richard
> 
> 
> 
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