Crossing the road from one side to the other is quite difficult for the blind young man Halil Kurmehaj. This is despite the fact that he is respecting traffic rules, crossing the pedestrian crossing, where, among other things, there are traffic lights. But, for Kurtmehajn, the problem is the malfunction of the acoustic sound.
It is the Municipality of Pristina itself that removed this traffic light node from use.
"It's very difficult, given the fact that we don't have the necessary infrastructure for crossing, as you saw, there are no slopes on the road, a blind strip, and in my case it's impossible to cross this road by myself, because I can to suffer with fatality. Almost 98% I have escorts in every way, including my friends, family, various associates.”
The institutions are to blame, as they are preventing the freedom of blind people in traffic, says Kurmehaj.
Halil Kurmehaj is just one of the many people of this community who do not feel safe in traffic, due to the lack of acoustic signals.
"As for the city of Pristina, we have made enough requests and complaints to the Municipality, of course the requests were via phone and e-mail. I have submitted complaints both as a natural person and on behalf of the entity called the Independent Initiative Association of the Blind, but we have not received a response, except for verbal responses.
The lack of proper signage has limited the movement of the blind on public roads. This is what Rifat Krasniqi, an expert on road traffic, said.
"The lack of a light signal, along with the acoustics, are challenges in themselves for all disabled people, in this case the blind. The case of "Qafa", where today the traffic lights do not work and we do not have acoustics, is a big challenge for the circulation of these people. What needs to be done is to take concrete steps to realize and fulfill the conditions for the circulation of persons with disabilities, in this case blind persons".
Vocal synthesis is both alpha and omega for this committee's needs. This is how Mejit Foniqi from the Association of Blind Persons describes the actual situation of blind people.
"It is an unavoidable risk since blind people do not have the courage to go out in the city by themselves, due to the fact that there is a lack of road infrastructure suitable for blind people. First of all, the tactile field is missing, which is a prerequisite for the traffic light to orient the blind".
"From the relevant institutions, we ask that they turn their heads a little even from disability, that disability is calculated somewhere up to 10% of the general population of Kosovo, it is an extremely large number and they want to be equal like everyone else others."
Out of 20 semaphore junctions equipped with acoustics, in the capital the blind are facing the malfunctioning of the latter.
For this, Enver Kadriu, engineer for transport and traffic in the Directorate of Public Services, is justified by saying that they are working on paths for the blind.
But, in reality, the problem also lies in the tender for the maintenance of traffic lights, which was announced in March, but which still has no economic operators.
"We expect very soon the conclusion of the contract for horizontal and vertical signaling, and within the framework of that contract, in cooperation with the Association of the Blind, the requests that they have, as far as possible, will be fulfilled."
The interruption of several traffic lights in the capital was caused by KEDS, due to the works of the underground energy network, which damaged the luminous signal, as well as due to the theft of traffic light batteries by unidentified persons, explained Kadriu further. .
While KEDS did not want to comment, KMDLNJ said that the Law on Blind Persons is being violated, which, among other things, states that: Blind persons in public services have priority in resolving claims. If necessary, they must show the passbook proving their status.
"Law No. 04 /L - 092 "For Blind Persons", clearly regulates the legal status of blind persons in the Republic of Kosovo. Article 15, paragraph 1, states that: "The institutions responsible for the approval of infrastructure and the regulation of the territory do not approve any project for roads and public environments if the necessary and possible adaptations for blind people are not taken into account, meanwhile paragraph 2 states that: "Blind persons in public services have priority in resolving claims. If necessary, they must show the booklet that proves their status. Also, according to this law: "Private and public operators must determine the places for the blind and place relevant signals. These countries are exempted from the fiscal obligation determined by instructions from the Ministry of Finance.
Meanwhile, Article 23 of this Law states that: "Any institution that does not respect the provisions of this Law shall be punished according to the laws in force".