What are "blind child" and "deaf child" warning signs?

Question

In MA (and maybe elsewhere), there are road signs that are ambiguous: Is there a real blind or deaf child living around the sign? Or rather this is a way to attract the motorist's attention to slow down in a residential area (to replace the more common "children playing").

Answer 1

I've seen this also in the Northeast. There is actually blind or deaf children in the area. You'll notice that these signs are not ubiquitous, but are specifically placed, and there is not necessarily a blind and deaf warning in the same place.

Answer 2

There really are blind or deaf children around those signs. I babysat a hard of hearing boy and he had a sign in front of his house, and another family in the neighborhood had a deaf child as well, and they had a sign. The parents have to go and request that a sign be put in, so no, they aren't just there to get people to slow down (most people don't even notice them, good for you for spotting that)

Answer 3

They are written signs stating there is a blind/ deaf person in the area.

Answer 4

They are legitimate signs warning the motorist that a child with special needs may be in the area and to be extra alert. They are not hoaxes to get you to slow down.

Answer 5

Families of deaf or blind kids, and sometime communities put pay to have the city or county put up those signs.

Answer 6

These are feel-good signs that serve no regulatory purpose, just like the silly "Children at Play" signs. In many cases, the signs are outdated: there is no blind or deaf person living in the neighborhood, and there are no children.

You shouldn't need any kind of sign to remind you to drive safely and be aware of your surroundings.

Answer 7

There is a deaf child on my street and we have a sign. pretty important sign too if you ask me. if the child were simply crossing the street and didn't hear the car, ... I would hate to think of the tragedy.