Deborah Wood

October 29, 2002

I am a member of The American Council of the Blind. I am writing to express my desire for the use of audible pedestrian traffic signals to become common practice. Traffic is becoming more and more complex, and many traffic signals are set up for the benefit of drivers rather than of pedestrians. This often means walk lights that are so short in duration that by the time a person who is blind realizes they have the light, the light has changed or is about to change, and they must wait for the next walk light. this situation can repeat itself again and again at such an intersection, which can make crossing such streets difficult, if not impossible. I was recently hit by a car while crossing the street to go home from work. Thankfully, I was not hurt. But I already felt unsafe crossing busy streets, and I now feel even more unsafe. Furthermore, I understand that several people who are blind have been killed while crossing such streets in the last several years. These fatalities might have been prevented had there been audible traffic signals where they crossed. Those who are sighted do not need to use the movement of the traffic to decide when it is safe to cross, they have a signal they can easily use to let them know when it's safe to cross. Pedestrians who are blind do not always travel with others; we often find ourselves traveling alone. Please do all that you can to give us the security and safety that is given to those who do not have visual impairments.

I am Deborah Wood. My address is 1[...].

Thank you for your consideration.

Deborah Wood.