Josie Armantrout

October 28, 2002

To Access Board Members:

My name is Josie Armantrout, I live at 11524 S.E. 308 Place, Auburn, WA 98092. I am writing you to let you know how important the stopping of the audible traffic signal devices is.

It is absolutely unnecessary to install an audible traffic signal at each and every intersection. As a member of the National Federation of the Blind, becoming blind four years ago, and with the assistance of blindness skills through my rehabilitation department and the philosophy learned at the NFB meetings, I am able to travel quite safely and confidently. So much so, that I am also a member of the Washington State Independent Living Advisory Council which demands I travel across the state for quarterly meetings. I do so independently and in a safe manner with the skills I have acquired with proper training on using my long white cane, common sense, and audible clues from the environment. This past year alone, I had many commitments throughout the U.S., I traveled to Lewisville, KY; Boise, ID; Baltimore, MD; Philadelphia, PA; Portland, OR; and various cities in Washington state. I am also a fulltime college student and serve as president of the National Federation of the Blind of Washington Seattle Chapter which also requires me to travel to various locations throughout the city on public transportation and on public streets with busy intersections.

The busy intersections are exactly where these signals are not necessary. The environmental clues are enough to assist a trained blind person cross a street safely and efficiently. The cars are the best clue, but with the audible traffic signals making noise, one will not be able to hear the ever quieting engines which could result in a dangerous situation. The weather plays tricks on audible traffic signals which results in a false indication of a light change. The wind carries the sound and the rain mutes it. These are two very critical variables to the signals thus creating very dangerous situations.

I admit, there are times I'd like a signal of some sort to tell me when the light has changed. Those times are when the traffic is not prevalent, not even slightly. I live in a rural area and at times there are some residential intersections I'd like a signal to tell me when to cross the highway.

The most important way to spend our funds is training. Without proper training, a blind person cannot confidently and most importantly, safely, travel. So, I propose, a minimum amount of installations, with advice from the National Federation of the Blind along with research made on traffic frequency for rural and minimally traveled roads.

Sincerely,

Josie Armantrout
President, NFBW Greater Seattle Chapter