[nfb-talk] Crossing the Street for the Blind

[David Evans]

Dear John,

What a way to start a letter, "Dear John" that is.
I agree that the signals I am talking about are indeed poor 
design.  I have seen some signals that did work much better , but 
for the most part a person's hearing has to compete with them to 
hear the suddal sounds of the tires, drive train, brakes or 
engine winding down as cars slow down to stop or make a turn.
I am an engineer and a blind one with experience as a pro auto 
mechanic and as an engineering student in the late 1960-early 
70's, helped develop the hybred technology that is being used 
today.
I have just learned to place my safety in good skills of 
blindness and not the technologies that some sighted person 
thinks is better for me.
I do think that signals could be improved over what we have, and 
that some disabled people could be helped to get across some more 
complicated and troublesome intersections.   but they can not and 
should not be used as a subsitute for good Orientation and 
mobility skills.
The audible singals can not be everywhere and I have seen many 
times how they can mislead and lull the untrained in to a false 
sense of security bby their use.
Audible singals tell you only that the color of the light has 
changed, something that your ears can easily tell you by 
listening to the surge of the traffic as it starts off from the 
light.

The money spent on most audible signals would be better spent on 
skills training for blind people who need it.
You and I have had these discussions before.  You may have your 
position and I will have mine.  I many times avoid audible signal 
crossings and either don't press the button to activate them, 
instead letting the light take its normal course, or just move on 
to another placewhere there are none to have to deal with.
I have stopped 3 blind people from getting run down at the 
audible signal in front of the Palm Beach Lighthouse over the 
years, when cars did not stop for the light and the audible 
signal which is in the middle of a block on busy Federal Highway 
in West Palm Beach.
There were 2 students struck outside the Florida State 
Orientation and Adjustment Center in Daytona, who were using the 
audible signal right outside the training center.  by the way, 
these students were trained in O and M but admitted that they 
were talking and just trusted the signal to stop the cars and did 
not hear the car running the light.  Also, the audible signal 
there turns the lights red in all four directions and is 
thereforesuppose to stop cars in all directions including right 
turns on red.

The noise, which can be heard 8 blocks away, gives a false sense 
of security, and failure to use proper O and M skills along with 
a impation driver led to a very preventable accident.  We can all 
write," I am sorry" 500 times on each of their cast, or "I will 
never trust audible signals with my life again."
I will not get into a debate with you as I know from experience 
with you that there will be no end to it.
I will just agree that you can have your opinion and I will have 
mine.

Have a nice day.

David, NFBF
Nuclear/Aerospace Materials Engineer
Builder of the Lunar Rovers and the F-117 Stealth Fighter


> ----- Original Message -----
>From: "John G. Heim" <jheim at math.wisc.edu
>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:47:30 -0600
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Crossing the Street for the Blind

>Come on, Dave, if an audible signal is so loud that you can't 
hear the
>traffic, that's just ridiculously poor engineering. I mean, you 
could create
>a walk light that shines a bright light in people's eyes but 
nobody would be
>against walk lights in general if some traffic engineer was 
stupid enough to
>set one up that way. They'd just get the traffic engineer to fix 
the light.

>If some traffic engineer screws up and makes the signal too loud, 
that's
>just a mistake. It doesn't invalidate the entire concept of 
audible walk
>signals.

>Those audible signals are usually no louder than a cricket and 
they're
>usually quieter than a cicada or a katydid.  If you're at an 
intercection
>with a cicada is it unsafe for you to cross? If there's a dog 
barking is it
>unsafe for you to cross? Construction? Somebody playing a radio 
or talking
>on their cell phone? Honestly, I think the audible signal is far 
less
>troublesome than any of those things.

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net
>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2006 10:35 AM
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Crossing the Street for the Blind



>> Dear Dar,

>> Most areas have a traffic safety committee that is made up from 
citizens
>> and city or county traffic officials that have the 
responsibility to
>> examine and make suggestions and changes to local traffic 
situations
>> including modifing intersections, configurations, signal timing 
and more.
>> If you talk to them about any problems you have, with a 
particular
>> crossing, such as needing more time to cross, these are the 
people who can
>> make it happen.
>> I think that anytime someone presses the crossing buttons, the 
signal
>> should give a little more time for some one to cross for the 
next two
>> light changes and then go back to its regular light timing to 
preserve the
>> coordinated light timing that traffic engineers figure into the 
system to
>> promote the smooth flow of traffic.

>> Audible traffic signals have both good and bad to their use.
>> The only good thing is that they tell you that the light 
changed.  This
>> could be useful where you are crossing at a street that 
sometimes has
>> little traffic volume to give you a clue as to who's turn it is 
in the
>> traffic sequence.    Audible signals do not really stop the 
traffic.  That
>> is what our ears are suppose to tell us so we are sure before we 
step off
>> the curb.  Cars run the red lights all of the time.  That is why 
audible
>> signals, that make so much noise are really a hazard to the 
blind as your
>> hearing has to compete with their sound, the traffic noise of 
the vehicles
>> that are moving and this makes it harder to hear the softer 
sounds of a
>> car slowing down to make that right turn on red.

>> I am not totally against audible traffic signals, but most of 
them make to
>> much noise and can be heard blocks away.  Making enough sound to 
let you
>> know the light has changed is okay, but then they should be 
quiet or make
>> very little sound to avoid masking the sounds we need to pick up 
on to
>> avoid getting hit by a car coming through the intersection a 
little late.
>> After all, the cars are governed by the color of the lights, not 
the
>> sound.  Many cars are so well insulated today that drivers can 
not even
>> hear most sudible signals until they are in the intersections 
anyway.
>> As 69.4% of all blind people are over the age of 65 years and 
that number
>> will rise to 74% in just 8 more years, traffic accidents may 
rise among
>> seniors if steps are not taken to provide better protection for 
them.
>> Audible signals can be both a help and a threat to them.
>> Seniors, who are losing their eye sight and their hearing can 
both make
>> good use of good signal designs,but can also be lulled into a 
false sense
>> of security by audible signals and begin placing too much trust 
in them
>> for their personal safety instead of using their own senses and 
common
>> sense to keep them safe.

>> The signal, and how we use it and respond to its use, is very 
important
>> and it must work for everyone and especially the most vunriable.
>> I am not sure that being distracted by the use of our cell phone 
is such a
>> good idea any more than I think that talking on the cell phone 
when
>> driving is such a good idea.  Distracted drivers are accounting 
for more
>> and more accidents today.  Add distracted pedestrians using 
their cell
>> phones is just another factor that can lead to a deadly 
accident, wouldn't
>> you agree?

>> Most accidents are caused by carelessness, lazyness or impacians 
on the
>> part of one or more of the parties involved.


>> David Evans, NFBF
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "dmgina" <dmgina at qwest.net
>>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>Date sent: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:29:22 -0700
>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Crossing the Street for the Blind

>>>I understand watching the traffic as always,
>>>just thought it was a swell idea if a cell phone could stop the
>> traffic for
>>>us to get across and many others.
>>>Even seniors would like more time with lights.

>>>--Dar
>>>www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
>>>Every saint has a past
>>>every sinner has a future

>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net
>>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 7:48 PM
>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Crossing the Street for the Blind



>>>> Dear Dar,

>>>> The cell phone approach will not work and is very impracticle
>> and would
>>>> leave many other pedestrians exposed.
>>>> The best way is just to be able to hear them coming the same way
>> we judge
>>>> the approach of all other vehicles.
>>>> The cell phone method just will not let you judge how fast and
>> from what
>>>> direction a hybred car is coming like your hearing does.
>>>> You would have to walk around trying to pay attention to your
>> phone and
>>>> all of the other things at the same time.
>>>> Cars just need to sound like cars, that's all.  Cars, most of
>> them anyway,
>>>> already do this and we can handle them.  It is just the hybred
>> electric
>>>> ones that mostly don't follow the rules.

>>>> David Evans, NFBF


>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>From: "dmgina" <dmgina at qwest.net
>>>>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>Date sent: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:21:40 -0700
>>>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Crossing the Street for the Blind

>>>>>I am for what they want to do.
>>>>>Many of us have cell phones, and I wouldn't be with out mine.
>>>>>I will keep reading.

>>>>>--Dar
>>>>>www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
>>>>>Every saint has a past
>>>>>every sinner has a future

>>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>>From: "Alicia Richards" <alicia716 at msn.com
>>>>>To: "NFB Talk" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 5:08 PM
>>>>>Subject: [nfb-talk] Crossing the Street for the Blind


>>>>>> The following was just posted to the Colorado Association of
>>>> Blind
>>>>>> Students mailing list.  I'm curious to know what you guys have
>>>> to say
>>>>>> about it.  I wonder, does the NFB know of this technology, and
>>>> do we plan
>>>>>> to do anything about it?

>>>>>> For the 21.2 million Americans who suffer from vision loss,
>>>>>> crossing the
>>>>>> street can be a stressful and potentially dangerous proposition.
>>>>>> Thanks to engineers at the University of Idaho, many visually
>>>> impaired
>>>>>> individuals soon may have a greatly reduced risk thanks to a
>>>> tool
>>>>>> already in their pockets - their cell phone.

>>>>>> The statistics for vision loss, provided by the American
>>>>>> Foundation for
>>>>>> the Blind, include anyone reporting difficulty seeing, even
>>>> while
>>>>>> wearing glasses or contact lenses. No matter the level of visual
>>>>>> impairment, many conditions - including visual noise, walking at
>>>>>> night
>>>>>> and irregular intersections - can result in missing a crosswalk.

>>>>>> Regardless of conditions, the new system being developed in
>>>>>> Moscow,
>>>>>> Idaho, will make intersections safer and easier to navigate.

>>>>>> "Minute for minute on the road, any pedestrian is 150 percent
>>>>>> more
>>>>>> likely to

>>>>>> be injured by a car than somebody driving one," said Richard
>>>>>> Wall,
>>>>>> professor

>>>>>> of electrical and computer engineering. "But it is pretty
>>>>>> apparent that
>>>>>> the

>>>>>> blind pedestrians are the ones most at risk at intersections.b

>>>>>> The new technology utilizes features already available in many
>>>>>> cellular

>>>>>> phones, including communications, Global Positioning Satellite
>>>>>> (GPS)

>>>>>> functions and magnetic compasses to help visually impaired
>>>>>> pedestrians.

>>>>>> Specialized software allows these pedestrians to activate the
>>>>>> crossing

>>>>>> signal remotely without having to locate the physical button.

>>>>>> Then, the GPS system monitors the position and direction of
>>>>>> travel while
>>>>>> crossing. As long as the crosser stays within the crosswalk,
>>>>>> nothing
>>>>>> happens. But stray outside the lines, and an audible warning
>>>>>> activates
>>>>>> alerting the pedestrian of their danger. It then provides
>>>>>> directions on
>>>>>> how to get back within the safety zone. Should the walker
>>>> somehow
>>>>>> end up
>>>>>> in the middle of the intersection, the system automatically
>>>> would
>>>>>> turn
>>>>>> every light red, stopping traffic and averting a potential
>>>>>> disaster.

>>>>>> "It's true that this would disrupt the timing of the signal
>>>>>> patterns
>>>>>> when it gets activated," said Wall. "But we would much rather
>>>>>> disrupt
>>>>>> them for a few seconds than for a half hour while an ambulance
>>>>>> assists a
>>>>>> traffic victim."

>>>>>> To ensure people don't trigger the alarm just for fun, only
>>>> those
>>>>>> who
>>>>>> need the help would be able to acquire the necessary software.

>>>>>> The system requires more than software, however. It also
>>>> requires
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> installation of new hardware in thousands of lights across the
>>>>>> country.
>>>>>> Luckily, Wall and his team have found a solution that not only
>>>> is
>>>>>> cost
>>>>>> effective, it simplifies the existing system.

>>>>>> Many crosswalks currently have handicapped-Many crosswalks curre
>>>>>> provide
>>>>>> help such as audio tones indicating when it is safe to cross.
>>>>>> However,
>>>>>> the box that controls the intersection contains a massive amount
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> wiring. This is necessary to connect each actuator with each
>>>>>> signal so
>>>>>> at any given time, the control box knows each state.

>>>>>> Wall's new system simplifies each box to only two wires, both
>>>>>> already
>>>>>> required to power the signals. It uses a technology called
>>>>>> Ethernet over
>>>>>> power line, which allows information to be broadcast over power
>>>>>> lines.

>>>>>> The future is clear for Wall and his research team. They have
>>>>>> established dates to deliver the engineering and expect field
>>>>>> trials to
>>>>>> commence in June. They are building prototypes supported by
>>>> funds
>>>>>> from
>>>>>> the University Transportation Centers program, Idaho's Higher
>>>>>> Education
>>>>>> Research Council and their commercial partner, Campbell Company,
>>>>>> who
>>>>>> currently makes the accessible pedestrian signals that chirp and
>>>>>> talk
>>>>>> for the handicapped.

>>>>>> "The signals we're building are more than prototypes. These
>>>>>> devices
>>>>>> actually can go into the field and work today," said Wall.
>>>> "We're
>>>>>> using
>>>>>> existing infrastructure and communicating intelligence over it.
>>>>>> It's
>>>>>> cost effective, it simplifies the connection to two wires and it
>>>>>> can be
>>>>>> immediately installed in all the existing crosswalks in the
>>>>>> country."

>>>>>> If you would like more information, or to speak with the people
>>>>>> involved, please let me know.

>>>>>> Ken Kingery

>>>>>> Science/Research Writer

>>>>>> University of Idaho

>>>>>> Office: 208-885-9156

>>>>>> Cell: 614-570-3942
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>>>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org



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