Why do drive-thru ATM machines have Braille numbers and instructions?

Because it’s easier and cheaper to have one mold to make the buttons for all machines.

There may be something about ADA involved, but the reason for the braille on all of them is for ease of production.

I don’t know, but the same general question has struck me about elevator buttons.

For use in Florida with all the blind old folks?

I agree with @tedibear, because there is a standard mold. I remember an old story about paperclips. The federal government had specifics in what size they wanted paperclips and they paid more for them than you or I would for paperclips, because it was to the specificiations. Thing is the paperclip company sold the same sizes to the general public also. They just took the government parameters and made those their standard molds. Government spending at its best. I don’t know if the story is really true.

@elbanditoroso I don’t understand the elevator comment. Blind people are in elevators all the time.

I’ve thought about this too! My previous theory was that the blind person could maybe sit behind the driver.
I like @tedibear ‘s theory better.

Stevie Wonder may need cash sometimes too.

A blind person can always walk up to the ATM. But yes, there’s also standardized molding/manufacturing.

@Darth_Algar A blind person walking up to a drive-thru ATM sounds like the makings of a disaster!

@fluthernutter

How so?

@tedibear

That does make sense. I thought about that, but wondered why they just wouldn’t have two different molds since the non-Braille one would be so less complex to make.

But then, I know almost zero about manufacturing, so…

@elbanditoroso

I really don’t understand your statement at all since elevators are accessible to all, so why wouldn’t it be helpful to blind folks to have Braille elevator buttons?

But drive thru machines are specifically for drivers of cars (which presumably eliminates blind people).

But plenty of blind people take elevators.

@Darth Algar

Most businesses with drive thru service will not serve foot traffic at the drive thru window.

And even tho it’s not universal, I have seen bank signs prohibiting foot traffic.

I think it’s common sense because it lessens the chance of accidents when a careless driver of a several ton car collides with a hundred pound person in a narrow space. Not a good combo to encourage.

@Buttonstc

And ATM is not a drive-thru service per se. Not in the way fast food drive-thrus or even human bank tellers are. It’s an inanimate object designed for one purpose and as such cannot distinguish if the person inserting their card is on foot or in a car. I’ve seen bank signs prohibiting foot traffic through lanes served by human bank tellers, but never for lanes served by an ATM (indeed, I’ve utilized “drive-thru” ATMs while on foot countless times). and, honestly, using that logic might as well prohibit pedestrians from crossing any street. Much greater chance of an accident there.

the blind person might be the passenger

@Buttonstc And even tho it’s not universal, I have seen bank signs prohibiting foot traffic.

Are you pre-supposing the blind people read the sign?

@Buttonstc – Getting a mold made isn’t (generally speaking) inexpensive. Why incur two costs instead of one is the prevailing idea.

@zenvelo

Of course not. I was responding to someone who saw no problem at all with ANYBODY walking up to a drive-thru ATM (as if that’s an everyday occurrnce).

My comment was illustrating the point that businesses (including banks) are not in favor of this and some outright prohibit it (for good reason).

That being the case, it’s hardly feasible that the reason for the Braille is because they’re expecting blind folks as part of foot traffic at a DRIVE-THRU designed for cars.

Since they’re trying to discourage foot traffic at a drive-thru, that would hardly be logical now would it?

No, the mold theory makes the most sense.

Like I said, might as well ban pedestrians from crossing the street. You’re much more likely to get hit by a car crossing the street (even if you do have the right-of-way) than you are to get hit by a car walking up to an ATM.

It is another of Gods little mysteries such as “If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?”

Oh this is an easy one for me to answer, as I“m—well, you know, blind.
So we have the following scenario. I’m in an Uber, and need to hit an ATM. Do I:
1. Put my own card in the slot, conduct my own transaction, and get my own money, or
2. Have the driver take my card, enter my PIN, get the cash for me, and trust him not to take too much?

If you said the second one, you’re a fool. If I did the second one, I’m a fool. Since I work as a software engineer for a BANK, where security is a concern, if I did the second one, I should be sectioned.