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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