I am a member of the Suffolk County, Long Island chapter of the American Council of the blind and am writing to you in order to support legislation that would require the installation of audible traffic signals and tactile warning strips in locations where a blind person could be in imminent danger. Another large organization of the blind in this country strongly opposes the implementation of such legislation purely on the grounds of false pride rather than a reasonable concern for human safety. Audible signals and detectable warning strips enable blind travelers to safely navigate busy, crowded streets in ways that they could not otherwise do in a safe manner. These signals inform the blind pedestrian as to the patterns of traffic flow and the specific location of areas where heavy traffic might be present. Whereas some blindness organizations would prefer not to avail themselves of these useful and necessary devices, there is a significant portion of the blind population that strongly supports audible signals and tactile warning strips in order to facilitate our travel and help us arrive more safely and directly at our destinations with a new measure of independence that was previously not possible. Thank you for considering this issue seriously, as it deserves to be addressed promptly and without reservation.

Sincerely,
Kathleen Prime

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