River Forest
|
October 6, 2002 |
Dear Access board members,
I wish to register my strong support for the provisions set forth in the
Prowac report. Phoenix Arizona is the number one place in the nation for red
light runners. Because of this, I no longer feel safe depending on sighted
drivers to let me know when the light is green. We are taught to listen to our
parallel traffic and to cross when they go. Well, with so many drivers running
red lights around here, I would like to have audible signals. Sighted drivers
have traffic lights and signs they can see and I would like equal access to that
information.
Just yesterday I was standing at a relatively small intersection waiting for the
light to change. I heard a car idling on my right who was also waiting for the
light to change. He/she waited there a few seconds and then proceeded across the
street. I went also thinking we had the green light. The car made it through the
intersection, but before I got half way across, two cars sped toward me,
slamming on their brakes. That driver on my right ran the light, but I had no
way of knowing it because it was just the two of us there. I must cross at this
intersection everyday on my way to and from work and I feel as though my days
are numbered.
While I have no difficulty feeling the slope of the ramp as I approach an
intersection, people who have diabetes often have neuropathy in their hands and
feet, making it very difficult to feel anything. Also, some places have blended
curbs making it impossible to know for certain whether you are on the sidewalk
or the street. Given this information, I think detectable warnings are
necessary.
While members of the National Federation of the Blind are content to be forced
to rely on sighted drivers in order to know when to cross streets, others of us
are not! We want equal access to information.
Sincerely,
River Forest