I would like to say that while I do not see a need for there to be an audible crossing signal on the corner of every major intersection, there should still be an allowance for their placement on the more dangerous crossings.  I'm totally blind, age 31 with 2 daughters, also going blind due to a hereditary eye disease.  I shutter to think that my daughters wouldn't have the option to ask for this kind of modification one day should they truly need it because some group of extremists said they didn't like audible crossing signals. 

 

I don't believe it is fair for one group of radical activists to say what is or isn't okay for someone else. There are some visually impaired travelers who have other limitations to cope with.  I have a significant hearing loss in one ear.  Are there certain crossings where this kind of device would be a major benefit to me...absolutely. 

 

Billions of dollars are spent everyday to make the lives of sighted individuals more convenient.  All we are asking for is the same consideration not for convenience purposes, but because we need to have the ability to ask for modifications when there is an unsafe intersection. 

 

While I feel it is of extreme import that a blind individual is able to read traffic first, there are just some intersections out there which can be considered a great risk to any pedestrian. 

 

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

 

Sincerely,

Carolyn E. Finefrock

Plano Texas