5 pictures show (1) a traffic signal suspended on a horizontal pole above the street. Next to the signal is a camera, which looks like a long tube about a foot long and 4 inches high, aiming toward the traffic that is facing the signal. (2) two women and a baby in a stroller waiting at the corner while a child pushes the pedestrian button; the walk sign is on to cross the street beside them, and traffic is moving in the street in front of them. In the street to their left, a driver has pulled forward and is looking to his left, as if he plans to turn right on the red light. (3) A crosswalk across 7-8 lanes in a complex intersection, we see detectable warning and the back of a pedestrian button suspended on a stub pole on the sidewalk, and a woman to cross. Traffic from both directions on the street beside her is turning left while everyone else waits. (4) a pedestrian pushbutton with a sign explaining what the pedestrian signals mean. (5) A man wearing jeans and black jacket holds a long cane in his left hand and stands on the sidewalk next to a pole. On the pole is a blue box about 4 by 4 inches on the top and 10 inches high. The man has his right hand on top of the box (the box is about as high as his waist).

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Self-Study Guide:
Crossing at Modern Traffic Signals
Dona Sauerburger, Gene Bourquin, Bonnie Dodson-Burk

WELCOME!

This Self-Study Guide has information that is important for orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists, guide dog mobility instructors (GDMI) and travel instructors (TI) to know for teaching students about crossing at intersections with traffic signals. Of course there is a myriad of skills and concepts needed for crossing streets in general, but this Self-Study Guide is focused only on those that are related specifically to traffic signals.

We wrote this Self-Study Guide primarily because traditional strategies that blind people have used to cross at signals are no longer safe and effective at intersections with modern traffic signals. When those traditional strategies were developed more than 60 years ago, signals were simpler, and blind pedestrians knew that they had the green signal whenever parallel traffic in either direction started to move.

But those days are long gone. Now there are complex traffic patterns that prohibit pedestrian movement to accommodate left- or right-turning traffic, and actuated signals that require pedestrians to indicate that they want to cross, and be able to identify when they've been provided with enough time.

As a result, research (Barlow, Bentzen, & Bond, 2005) shows that when blind pedestrians used traditional strategies at signalized intersections, they sometimes

began crossing when traffic had the right-of-way across their crosswalk (YIKES!), or
did not have enough time to complete their crossing before the signal changed!

Therefore, the largest professional organization of O&M specialists in the world, the AER O&M Division, has a position paper which states that

O&M specialists will provide consumers with information about

how actuated and/or complex traffic signals function and

techniques for dealing with them.

And THAT is what this is all about!

NOTE: LINKS ARE NOT NECESSARY!
Many links are provided for additional information
that is not necessary for understanding this course.
You may skip the links
unless you are curious or want to know more!

The Self-Study Guide is divided into 8 sections -- the links to each of them are posted at the top of each page. It is suggested that you start with the "Basics" section, which explains concepts and terms that are used throughout the Self-Study Guide. Then you can go from one section to the next by following the link at the bottom of each page, although you can jump directly to sections that interest you, if you prefer. There is also a page with study questions for your review, and an index to help you find specific information.

Essential information:

This Self-Study Guide has lots of information that is important or helpful, but the authors believe that the following information is ESSENTIAL for teaching people with visual impairment how to cross streets safely. Essential information will be highlighted throughout the Self-Study Guide, and is listed below with links:

Need a shortcut?
Do you teach blind people to cross streets,
but don't have time to read everything in the Self-Study Guide?

You're in luck!
All the essentials you need are in two sections:

Basics of Modern Traffic Signals
Strategies for Visually Impaired Pedestrians at Modern Signals

This should get you started with what you need to know
before teaching blind people to cross at modern signals.

You can come back later to gain a more complete understanding
and become a better, more informed instructor.

Implications of actuation on the street crossing

Unpredictability of the timing of the cycles (link)
The need for pressing the pedestrian pushbutton (link)

Pedestrian signals and pushbuttons

The need to start the crossing during WALK interval/signal (link)
How the pedestrian pushbuttons work (link)
How to press the pushbutton when the WALK signal is not accessible (link)
How to align when using the pushbutton (link)
Lead Pedestrian Intervals (link) and . . .
Exclusive Pedestrian Phasing (link) . . .
. . . and the need for these to be accessible (link)
What to do at actuated signals with no pedestrian signal or pushbutton (link)

Implications of traffic patterns of modern signals

Protected left turns (link)
The need to cross with the WALK signal and, when that is not accessible, cross with the near-lane-parallel traffic (link)

Right-turn-on-Red and its implications for knowing when it's time to cross (link)

For comprehensive information
(with free ACVREP credit)
about crossings with no traffic signal or stop sign,
see the Self-Study Guide:
Preparing Visually Impaired Students
for Uncontrolled Crossings

With grateful appreciation to Travel Instructors
Patti Furlong,
Michelle Holsopple, and
Jay Furlong;
and Ben Myrick, Maryland DOT

Proceed to "Basics"