Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Light-up-cane (self.Blind)
submitted by Ko-Riel
My GF is blind. That doesn't stop her from walking a lot with her dog. She also requires very little sleep and wakes up early quite often. She will go out walking during nighttime conditions. This always worries me, she doesn't get it that in this day and age where drivers are focussed on other things than driving she needs to protect herself better when crossing busy streets.
I have finally gotten her to start wearing a yellow hi-viz vest and we have also received her first light-up-cane. A lighted signaling cane. i wanted to see what you guys on reddit think about this cane but haven't found any post on it yet, so here it is:
$1
I have finally gotten her to start wearing a yellow hi-viz vest and we have also received her first light-up-cane. A lighted signaling cane. i wanted to see what you guys on reddit think about this cane but haven't found any post on it yet, so here it is:
$1
CloudyBeep 3 points 1y ago
I'd feel quite uncomfortable if I were asked to wear a high-viz vest simply because I wanted to go for a walk. I encourage you to engage in some introspection: are your concerns for your girlfriend's safety due to low expectations of blind people? If you wouldn't make a sighted girlfriend wear a high-viz vest, the answer to that question may may be a yes. If, on the other hand, you're worried that your girlfriend isn't taking appropriate caution when crossing streets, I'd say that that is a more legitimate concern, but that wearing high-viz clothing is not an adequate solution, for your girlfriend's problems with crossing streets will also be a problem in the daytime.
Ko-Riel [OP] 2 points 1y ago
We live in a village right next to the bypass road where all the traffic passes the village. On the other side of that bypass there is a nature area where she likes to walk.
There are no speed limiting changes made to that road, and there is no pedestrian crossing close. The traffic is fast, often exceeding the speedlimit. And during dusk/dawn/dark periods the road is lit, but it's not safe for crossing. My g/f often waits for people to help her, but being very strongminded she often just crosses anyway. This is not a perceived but a real risk. Using this lightupcane in combination with a yellow vest at least makes her visible. And it's not just me. Her father has tried to get her to wear hi-viz vests for years. It's just that I have managed to convince her.
u/ukfrit, It might seem that way, but during daytime hours I let her be. It's not my job to keep her safe. She lost her sight 35 years ago, and since then traffic has changed quite a bit. Here in Holland you wouldn't believe the number of people driving who are playing with phones or are otherwise engaged while driving cars. In our part of the country regular bikers or people walking in the countryside are wearing some kind if high-viz stuff. As a blind person you have to rely on others to see and avoid you. Just make it easier on them to do so.
There are no speed limiting changes made to that road, and there is no pedestrian crossing close. The traffic is fast, often exceeding the speedlimit. And during dusk/dawn/dark periods the road is lit, but it's not safe for crossing. My g/f often waits for people to help her, but being very strongminded she often just crosses anyway. This is not a perceived but a real risk. Using this lightupcane in combination with a yellow vest at least makes her visible. And it's not just me. Her father has tried to get her to wear hi-viz vests for years. It's just that I have managed to convince her.
u/ukfrit, It might seem that way, but during daytime hours I let her be. It's not my job to keep her safe. She lost her sight 35 years ago, and since then traffic has changed quite a bit. Here in Holland you wouldn't believe the number of people driving who are playing with phones or are otherwise engaged while driving cars. In our part of the country regular bikers or people walking in the countryside are wearing some kind if high-viz stuff. As a blind person you have to rely on others to see and avoid you. Just make it easier on them to do so.
CloudyBeep 1 points 1y ago
Your position sounds reasonable.
ukifrit 2 points 1y ago
OP'S post seems excessively worried IMO.
nkdeck07 2 points 1y ago
I mean I'm sighted and my husband has a joke I'm in a competition with myself to find the brightest exercise gear I possibly can and most of the runners in my neighborhood are wearing bright/reflective gear. Least where I am this is really common.
Edit: The dog also has a high visibility vest for nighttime or dusk walkies
Edit: The dog also has a high visibility vest for nighttime or dusk walkies
Bsmith0799 2 points 1y ago
Consider a lightup $1 too. So pup can be seen. They're only like $10.
Das-Lebensfieber 2 points 1y ago
that's really cool! I didn't know this existed.
I know they sell light attachments for white canes too.
https://ambutech.com/collections/cane-light/products/pharos-cane-light
I know they sell light attachments for white canes too.
https://ambutech.com/collections/cane-light/products/pharos-cane-light
Ko-Riel [OP] 3 points 1y ago
First time I see anything like that. What is a bummer though is the run and charge time if 45 minutes.. That's way too short for my g/f, besides her light up cane is very visible at might already.. ;-)
But it's always good to have more aids and choice for the blind..
I just wish I could get her to wear a hard-hat with a flashlight on top.... lol!
But it's always good to have more aids and choice for the blind..
I just wish I could get her to wear a hard-hat with a flashlight on top.... lol!
Ko-Riel [OP] 1 points 1y ago
The lightupcane doesn't blink, it's a steady light. Just made a picture in the darkest place I could find, the toilet.. ;-)
https://ibb.co/sbQCLbK
https://ibb.co/sbQCLbK
macadamia_owl 1 points 1y ago
Saw white cane $1p saw many cheap ones on ebay and Amazon, $1
If they have blink or strobe effect they will cause seizure on nearby people not only epileptic and is especially dangerous at night for drivers and bikers. The linked one is especially triggering because it's has full length light up pattern. It would be safer to use light tip on static mode or cane with light up part, the risk of causing seizure will still be there but much less but she will be still visible.
At night i wear reflective armband on my ankles because it's the fastest way person is reached with car/bike lights even 10 meters extra it's huge advantage over vests and accessories over waist level. Any light blinking/strobe is actually less secure because when it goes on/off driver isn't sure where light is right now, at what speed it's exactly moving and what direction it's very distracting and misleading. My father was policeman and is car driver he gates bikers with those lights. Those are generally banned in Europe and there's cash fines because these are causing many accidents but are cheap on ebay.
If they have blink or strobe effect they will cause seizure on nearby people not only epileptic and is especially dangerous at night for drivers and bikers. The linked one is especially triggering because it's has full length light up pattern. It would be safer to use light tip on static mode or cane with light up part, the risk of causing seizure will still be there but much less but she will be still visible.
At night i wear reflective armband on my ankles because it's the fastest way person is reached with car/bike lights even 10 meters extra it's huge advantage over vests and accessories over waist level. Any light blinking/strobe is actually less secure because when it goes on/off driver isn't sure where light is right now, at what speed it's exactly moving and what direction it's very distracting and misleading. My father was policeman and is car driver he gates bikers with those lights. Those are generally banned in Europe and there's cash fines because these are causing many accidents but are cheap on ebay.
Iamheno 1 points 1y ago
I wear a ProViz jacket on most walks, I love it! I’ve wanted a light up can as well I’ll be checking it out!
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