Alpidio Rolón

October 22, 2002

Please include the attached letter among the comments on the proposed guidelines about "audible traffic signals" and "detectable warnings".

Alpidio Rolón
President
NFB of Puerto Rico

 

---

National Federation of the Blind of Puerto Rico

I write because I wish to express my views about the proposed guidelines regarding “audible traffic signals” and “detectable warnings”. Let me first of all state, that I have been totally blind for thirty-two years. I have up to now, thanks to good orientation and mobility training, managed to go anywhere I wish using my other senses. My few encounters with ATS’s have been to say the least, disagreeable. Not only have they not helped; they have impeded my ability to concentrate on ambient signals that might better enable me to cross a street safely. Their use could only be contemplated in certain situations, such as crossings that contemplate multiple traffic alternatives. Even then, we would be better off with “vibrotactile signals”.

On the other hand, the imposition of “detectable warnings” at all curb ramps greater than 1-15, is unnecessary and costly. Any blind person can easily detect said ramp. It seems to me that you should concentrate more on the inclination of the curb ramp than on requiring “detectable warnings”. Better yet, even though it is not your area of concern, more money should be spent on providing more and better training for blind people.

Hoping that you will consider my opinion about “audible traffic signals” and “detectable warnings”, I am,


Sincerely,
Alpidio Rolón
President
NFB of Puerto Rico