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Several years ago there was a new Kroger grocery store built within easy walking distance of the Georgia state capitol where I frequently went. I was excited about the grocery being so convenient and went to it. In leaving the grocery I carefully listened to traffic to try to determine where the end of the sidewalk area was and the beginning of the street was. There was no angle at the curb cut or curb. I therefore used traffic noise to try to determine the intersection and listened very carefully to the traffic patterns.I turned right at what I thought was the intersection and confidently walked on. A car soon pulled up on my right side and said "You know you are in the middle of an intersection". I was startled and so the driver of the car said "Go to your right". I turned to my right and the driver quickly said "No, no you are going to run into my car". I turned and the driver said "No, no". By then the light had turned and there were cars all around. I was in a panic. Fortunately there was another pedestrian who may have saved my life who stopped traffic and came and got me. It turns out that there was a row of parked cars along the road by the Kroger. This meant that the noise of moving cars did not start until well into the street. If there had been detectable warnings at the street intersection I would have known when the actual street started.

At the house where I formerly lived there is a busy street intersection which also has a dog leg. Across this street is a nice little business district. I was strongly advised not to cross the street and told it was dangerous even for sighted folks. At this intersection I had the lead time increased and a audible traffic signal installed. Since audible traffic signals were not seen as needed at the time it took quite a bit of fighting to get it. It was one of the first audible signals installed in Atlanta. This signal is at the intersection of Glenwood and Moreland Ave. in Atlanta, Georgia. I can now safely cross the street. I could now safely go and do my shopping. Something essential for my independence.

These are just two examples of the need for the tactile warning strips and accessable pedestrian traffic signals called for in the PROAC Report. Please save the lives of blind people and help provide for the independence of blind people by passing the PROAC Report as written.