I am greatly concerned about the proposal to place audible traffic signals at intersections throughout this country. I am a totally blind person who travels independently with a white cane. Although I did not always know it was possible, I now travel wherever I want--when I want to.

I know that there is a segment of the blind community that is demanding loudly that government require these audible signals. They have alarming anecdotes about the dire consequences to blind citizens if this is not done. I have wondered how they explain the thousands of blind people who travel safely on a daily basis throughout heavily trafficked areas.

Will this be an unfunded mandate to cities that are already strapped financially? If my safety were in question I wouldn't care if it was. But I do not want to be a burden on taxpayers when there is no evidence to warrant such a burden. It should be an easy matter to show if there is statistical evidence to prove the necessity for such signals. If you have such evidence, I would stand corrected--but you don't.

I hope you will use common sense, and not emotion, when making this decision.

Thank you for considering my comments.

Judy Sanders