Oh, So That's the Reason

I've always wondered why the drive-up ATMs have Braille on them. Now I feel much safer driving around town.

Q: Why Is There Braille On Drive-Through ATMs?

We have been looking into the reason for why there is Braille on drive-up ATMs. After scratching our heads for a little while, we decided that the best place to search would be in the Americans with Disabilities Act , or ADA. In section 4.34.4 of the ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities -- Appendix to Part 1191, 36 CFR Chapter XI, issued pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 -- it says, "Instructions and all information for use (of an automated teller machine) shall be made accessible to and independently usable by persons with vision impairments."

So that takes care of most ATMs, but what about the drive-through? While most bankers thought drive-through machines would be exempt from the ruling, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board disagreed, reasoning that ATMs without Braille "would not allow the (blind) individual to use the ATM independently." Some argue that any blind person could use the drive-through machines while riding as a passenger and then have the driver help enter information. Again, this goes against the ADA’s code requiring “independently usable” ATMs for those without sight.