A practical activity on public roads has shown that several drivers do not sufficiently know how to act when a blind or visually impaired person wants to cross. Despite a clearly visible white cane, several vehicles continued driving.
The awareness activity was an initiative of the Blindencentrum and was supported by the Verkeersveiligheidsinstituut (Road Safety Institute) (VVI) and the Korps Suriname Vrijwilligers (KSV). The Korps Politie Suriname monitored public order and safety.
During the activity, it took a remarkably long time before a driver stopped and the visually impaired person was given sufficient space to cross the street safely. Several road users ignored the signal of the white cane.
According to the VVI, this indicates that the meaning of the white cane is still insufficiently known. As a result, blind and visually impaired people face additional risks when participating in traffic.
The institute advocates for greater awareness and believes that driving instruction and traffic education should explicitly pay attention to the white cane. Drivers must know how to act safely and responsibly in such situations.
According to the VVI, the traffic infrastructure must also be better adapted to people with visual impairments. Among other things, sidewalks, crossings, traffic lights and other facilities must be designed in such a way that they can move around safely and as independently as possible.
Road users are urged to be extra alert, reduce their speed in time and give blind and visually impaired people sufficient time and space to cross safely.
