[Blindtlk] National Federation of the Blind Commends House for Passage of Safety Legislation

[Freeh, Jessica]

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CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

cdanielsen at nfb.org




National Federation of the Blind Commends
  House for Passage of Safety Legislation

Washington, D.C. (December 16, 2010): The National Federation of the 
Blind today commended the United States House of Representatives for 
passing the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act (S. 841), which will 
protect the blind and other pedestrians from injury as a result of 
silent vehicle technology.

Because blind pedestrians cannot locate and evaluate traffic using 
their vision, they must listen to traffic to discern its speed, 
direction, and other attributes in order to travel safely and 
independently.  Other people, including pedestrians who are not 
blind, bicyclists, runners, and small children, also benefit from 
hearing the sound of vehicle engines.  New vehicles that employ 
hybrid or electric engine technology can be silent, rendering them 
extremely dangerous in situations where vehicles and pedestrians come 
into proximity with each other.

"The National Federation of the Blind commends the United States 
House of Representatives for the wise and decisive action taken today 
to preserve the right to safe and independent travel for the blind," 
said Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the 
Blind.  "The blind, like all pedestrians, must be able to travel to 
work, to school, to church, and to other places in our communities, 
and we must be able to hear vehicles in order to do so.  This bill, 
which is the result of collaboration among blind Americans, 
automobile manufacturers, and legislators, will benefit all 
pedestrians for generations to come as new vehicle technologies 
become more prevalent.  We hope that President Obama will sign this 
legislation into law before the close of the year."

"The trend toward putting more environmentally friendly, quiet 
vehicles on the road has unintentionally jeopardized the safety and 
independence of the blind and other pedestrians," said Representative 
Edolphus Towns, the sponsor of the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act, 
who spent many years teaching travel with a white cane to the blind. 
"This bill will prevent many injuries while still allowing more clean 
vehicles on our nation's roads."

"I understand the safety concerns of blind pedestrians with these 
quiet automobiles; I have heard the same concerns from senior 
citizens in my district, and I appreciate the threat to children, 
bicyclists, and runners," said Representative Cliff Stearns, the 
original Republican co-sponsor of the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement 
Act.  "I deeply appreciate the support of all parties in working for 
the passage of this important safety legislation."



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About the National Federation of the Blind


With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind 
is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind 
people in the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = 
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />United States.  The 
NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, 
research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and 
self-confidence.  It is the leading force in the blindness field 
today and the voice of the nation's blind.  In January 2004 the NFB 
opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the 
first research and training center in the United States for the blind 
led by the blind.  Please visit our Web site: <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org.