Teaching Blind Pedestrians to Cross at Complex
Signalized Intersections
Dona Sauerburger, COMS®
Based on handouts from presentations at:
2005
2006 DC-Maryland AER Conference
In
July, 2006, the AER O&M Division approved a position
paper which states that during instruction,
O&M specialists will provide consumers with information about how actuated
signals function and techniques for dealing with them, including strategies to
find and use pedestrian buttons and cross.
This page provides some of this information and strategies.
Signalized intersections have changed drastically in the last 30
years. Strategies that blind people
traditionally use to cross at signalized intersections are no longer effective
and reliable because of some of these changes.
The
traditional strategy for crossing at signalized intersections was as follows:
·
At unfamiliar intersections, observe the
movement of the traffic to determine and become familiar with the pattern of
the signal (that is, in which order the traffic on different legs of the
intersection have the green signal, whether there are any special features such
as left-turning movement, etc.), and the geometry of the streets (their width
and angle of intersecting, etc).
At familiar
intersections, the procedure for crossing was:
·
Approach the curb and, after finding a
location that is an appropriate distance from the corner so that it is likely
to be within the crosswalk, listen for a cycle or two in order to align using
the sound of traffic;
·
Once aligned properly, start to cross as soon
as the traffic on the parallel street (the street intersecting the street to be
crossed) begins to surge forward (i.e. “cross with parallel traffic surge”),
because that surge indicates that the signal is green for them and therefore
green for pedestrians crossing parallel to them.
Listed below are features of signalized
intersections that are different than they were 30 years ago, and the effect of
each feature on the strategies blind people use to cross. Each feature has a link to more information, and suggestions to make crossings
more reliably safe.
·
Complex traffic patterns (protected left and split phases, lead pedestrian
intervals, exclusive pedestrian phases)
Effect: Traditional rule to
“cross with parallel traffic surge” is no longer reliably appropriate.
Effect: Initial surge of parallel traffic is no
longer sufficient cue to recognize the onset of the pedestrian walk signal.
Effects:
1.
It is no longer
possible to predict timing / traffic pattern, no matter how long it is
observed;
2.
Pedestrians may have to push a
button before crossing in order to ensure enough time to cross.
·
Pushbutton and compliance
with pedestrian signals may be required
Effects: Where pedestrians have to find and push a
pedestrian button to ensure time to cross, the crossing must start in the appropriate
phase of cycle immediately following the push of the button, and therefore:
1.
There is limited
time to prepare for the crossing;
2.
Alignment must be
done with limited or no parallel traffic sounds.
3.
The status of
pedestrian signal must be determined (see below)
Effect: There is no longer any
reliable cue as to where the edge of the street is; blind people walk into
street unaware
·
Aggressive drivers fail
to yield legal right of way
Effect: When pedestrians are legally in crosswalks,
there is danger from conflicting traffic (vehicles which are turning into the
crosswalk or turning right on red).
·
Separate right-turning
lanes
Effect: Usually there is no
signal for the traffic in the separate lane, and their movement has little or
no relation to the signal and traffic movement at the main intersection, so
they must be crossed during a gap in traffic or yielding vehicles.
Below is from: Janet M.
Barlow, Billie Louise Bentzen, and Tamara Bond (2005) Blind Pedestrians and the Changing
Technology and Geometry of Signalized Intersections: Safety, Orientation, and
Do blind people need to determine or pay attention to
the status of the pedestrian signal?
Some O&M instructors and pedestrians
who are blind do not consider the status of the pedestrian signal to be an
appropriate measure of the safety of a crossing. However, they should be aware
of the laws regarding obedience to pedestrian signals.
Many individuals mistakenly believe that
pedestrians always have the right-of-way. The Uniform Vehicle Code (UVC)
provides standard laws that form the basis for traffic laws in the
The UVC specifically limits pedestrian
right-of-way where pedestrian signals are installed (National Committee on
Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances, 2000). UVC § 11-501(a) requires
pedestrians to "obey the instructions of any official traffic control
device specifically applicable to such pedestrian," and UVC § 11-203
explains the meaning of the pedestrian control signals.
At locations with pedestrian control
signals, pedestrians are legally crossing if they begin their crossing during
the WALK signal. It is legal to complete a crossing during the flashing Don't
Walk signal if they began during the WALK signal, but it is not legal to
begin to cross during the flashing or steady Don't
Walk signal.
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