The concepts and skills needed to recognize Situations of Uncertainty and crossable gaps are just as important for people who use vision to cross streets as it is for those who use hearing, and many of the principles are the same for both. However using sounds for crossing can be more complex than using vision, and includes issues that you may not have considered (heck, we even need to talk about what "quiet" really means!).
For that reason, Section 1 primarily addresses issues of recognizing Situations of Uncertainty using hearing. However, starting with Section 2, the entire Self-Study Guide deals with teaching these concepts and skills to people who use vision as well as those who use hearing to cross streets.
So . . . let's get started! We'll begin by explaining some terms.
What does it mean to have a crossing with no stop sign or traffic signal?
- Left (first) photo: There are no stop signs or traffic signals within a block of this crossing in suburban Washington, DC.
- Second photo: This intersection in a suburb in Maryland has a stop sign for the street beside the stick figure but not for the street that the figure is facing to cross.
- Third photo: At this roundabout in suburban Kansas City, there is no stop sign or signal for traffic approaching the crosswalk.
- Fourth (last) photo: This man is in an intersection with a traffic signal in Silver Spring, Maryland.
There is a signal for the traffic behind him and beside him, but he is standing on an island where there is no signal or stop sign for the traffic in the lane he is facing to cross.
This Self-Study Guide is about crossings with no stop sign or traffic signal. These crossings can be found everywhere -- downtown, suburban and rural areas, even at intersections that have stop signs or traffic signals! Examples of these crossings are shown in the photos above.