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MEMORANDUM
TO Allan F Kenney, Chairman DATE. 1/21/75 PAGE: 1
Board of Selectmen
FROM John J. McSweeney, Chairman SUBJECT• Traffic Sign
Traffic Safety Committee F.J Trimhold
At its meeting of January 21, 1975, the Traffic Safety Committee
discussed in depth Mr. Trimhold's letter of December 22, 1974 regarding
"Go Slow Blind Person Crossing" signs on Bedford Street near Reed Street.
While the Committee is not opposed to the installation of signs of this
type, we would like to explain why we feel their installation in this
area would be inappropriate
Driver behavior is the key once again, and the premise is very
simple. Unless the motoring public sees a blind person crossing at this
location a relatively large percentage of the times they travel this area,
a sign will be almost totally ignored. This is not intentional In fact,
the motorists will most probably read the signs each time they pass them
Nevertheless, not seeing the blind person on a majority of trips, the pur-
pose and, most important, the meaning of the sign will be lost. Unfortunately,
the signs will have the opposite effect on the sense of security of the
blind person This person will feel more secure knowing of the presence
of the signs and perhaps become slightly less alert. As you can see, in this
particular case the installation of the sign actually makes this person's
attempts to cross less safe than before the installation.
While the Committee can appreciate the difficulties this person might
have in crossing Bedford Street, we feel that the installation of this type
of sign would be a mistake for the aforementioned reasons. To further
illustrate our reasoning, we quote Mr Trimhold
. . To the effect "Go Slowly, Blind Person Crossing "
I hope this can be done, because I am not convinced that
the new crosswalk is sufficient to make the crossing of
Bedford Street fully safe for the blind person . . ."
It is our opinion that this location will never be fully safe for this
person. Further, we feel that it is actually to this person's benefit that
the signs not be installed. The Committee therefore recommends that this
request be denied.
1 r'
pmc/w
cc Kenneth Briggs
Peter M. Chalpin
Chief Corr
Captain Lima
Copy to Board Members
Town Manager 1/24
C13 P
F-TM-1 MP-2M