From the New York State Drivers Manual: “There is a special right-of-way law for blind pedestrians crossing the road with a guide dog or a white or metallic cane. You must always give them the right-of-way, even if the traffic signals or other right-of-way rules are not in their favor.”
Actually, dogs are not completely color blind. They can detect color variations of blue and yellow. However, green and red apparently have the same appearance to them.
The dog doesn’t look at the light. The blind person listens for the traffic and tells the dog when to go. The dog will refuse to go if there is danger. In some areas where there are large concentrations of the blind (schools, rehab centers) traffic lights also make a sound to help the blind person decide when to cross.
KaecispopX I know scientist say that but I don’t believe it anymore that they can’t see red. We used to have a poodle that would automatically try to pull down and chew up anything red he saw on my mothers clothesline when I was a child…. never bothered anything green or any other color at all. Had to keep him in the house when doing laundry
What the heck makes you think the dog tells the owner when to go? Have you never actually watched a blind person crossing at a light with a dog? The person tells the dog when to go.
You listen for traffic and use good judgement and training. The dog stopped because it was a curb or a road and knows nothing about lights, there can be dozens of different lights at an intersection, in case you’ve never actually seen one.
Also, have you never found the main ATM out of order and waled over to one of the drive through ones? This isn’t Sherlock Holmes level stuff folks.
SashaW over 10 years ago
The top one is red, the center one is yellow and the bottom is green. They only need to be able to see, which one is lit.
Perkycat over 10 years ago
Somebody has to ask these questions – right??? I would have never even thought about it. Thanks for the explanation Amber
acjones over 10 years ago
From the New York State Drivers Manual: “There is a special right-of-way law for blind pedestrians crossing the road with a guide dog or a white or metallic cane. You must always give them the right-of-way, even if the traffic signals or other right-of-way rules are not in their favor.”
kaecispopX over 10 years ago
Actually, dogs are not completely color blind. They can detect color variations of blue and yellow. However, green and red apparently have the same appearance to them.
Saucy1121 Premium Member over 10 years ago
The dog doesn’t look at the light. The blind person listens for the traffic and tells the dog when to go. The dog will refuse to go if there is danger. In some areas where there are large concentrations of the blind (schools, rehab centers) traffic lights also make a sound to help the blind person decide when to cross.
fleebell over 10 years ago
KaecispopX I know scientist say that but I don’t believe it anymore that they can’t see red. We used to have a poodle that would automatically try to pull down and chew up anything red he saw on my mothers clothesline when I was a child…. never bothered anything green or any other color at all. Had to keep him in the house when doing laundry
Elvanion over 10 years ago
What the heck makes you think the dog tells the owner when to go? Have you never actually watched a blind person crossing at a light with a dog? The person tells the dog when to go.
You listen for traffic and use good judgement and training. The dog stopped because it was a curb or a road and knows nothing about lights, there can be dozens of different lights at an intersection, in case you’ve never actually seen one.
Also, have you never found the main ATM out of order and waled over to one of the drive through ones? This isn’t Sherlock Holmes level stuff folks.
Sheesh.