[nfb-db] More Questions About Street Crossings

[Sammons, Elizabeth]

Hello, Kerri,

First off, congratulations on your progress and spirit as you continue in your training program.

Secondly, I am blind but not deaf/blind, however, I consistently make one crossing that makes me deaf/blind in effect that I will share in case it helps you.

My bus stop near home is on a fairly busy road, busy especially at the rush hour when I must cross, with traffic lights 2 blocks away. Rather than going to the lights, I cross the street at this stop. I go behind the bus to cross, making it entirely impossible for me to hear at that point, thus the deaf/blindness I mentioned above.

It would be impossible for me to cross if I waited on all traffic. Therefore, I cross the oncoming (right) lane behind the bus before it leaves; naturally cars there are stopped anyhow.

An important principle to remember is that drivers are a lot more afraid of you than you are of them. I go slowly and then can listen, as you probably could using your left ear, to the oncoming traffic in the opposite lane coming from my right by turning to face that traffic. I put my hand out and wait to hear that there are no cars, and then I promptly cross.

I know this is a bit controversial and dare-devil, but I have been doing it for 6 years and have yet to lose life or limb, and no one has ever yelled at me for doing it. I hope this may help you a little.


Best wishes,
Elizabeth from Ohio

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