[Blindtlk] To Drive or not to Drive: that is the question

[David Evans]

Dear Mary,

We, as part of the disabled population of this Country, often think of 
ourselves as deprived because we can not do certain things easily or at all. 
One of these things is driving or having access to transportation services.
The truth is that there are more so called normal and by this , I also mean 
sighted that do not have access either.
Half the people in the world are in China and until very recently, did not 
have much more than their own two feet or a bicycle to get themselves 
around.
Now they are becoming better off and able to afford cars for the first time. 
That is where allot of the world's oil is going these days, into what we use 
to only think of as "third world" countries that can now afford cars and 
drive.
We are still much better off than these other people, even with our petty 
problems and inability to drive.
If there will be a country where the Blind are able to drive first, it will 
be here in America I believe.
Our military is developing auto vehicles right now for their own use.  The 
commercial trucking and passenger transport, taxies and such and even 
delivery businesses such as FED-X and UPS or Domino's Pizza will be next in 
line with their use, but there will also start occurring a trickle down 
effect of this technology to the disabled.  This will happen the same way 
that G.P.S. technology became sout after following the First Gulf War.
Many veterans, who were weekend sailors, pilots and campers were exposed to 
the technology in the war and wanted it for their pleasure activities.
A demand was created and then people and companies began popping up to 
satisfy that demand.
The same thing will happen with cars that can drive themselves.
Not everyone is going to want such cars, but there will be enough and as 
cars become more capable the technology will get better and the prices will 
come down and there will even at some point be good used vehicles on the 
market that even a modest blind person will be able to afford and operate.
Until that happens, we will just have to use what we have as best we can to 
the age old question, "how do I get there?"

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack
Retired Nuclear/Aerospace Materials Engineer
Builder of the Lunar Rovers and the F-117 Stealth Fighter.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mari Hunziker" <marihunziker at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2011 5:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] To Drive or not to Drive: that is the question


> Hello,
>
> I have been legally blind my entire life. As a teenager and as a young 
> adult
> driving really wasn't that big of a deal to me, mostly because I lived in 
> a
> town that provided great public transportation service. And when I needed 
> to
> go places I seemed to have the gumption to get there on my own or with
> friends. Now as a mom, I would love the opportunity to be able to drive. I
> would love to be able to have the independence to get in my own care and 
> go
> where I needed when I needed. It is difficult to have to ask for rides to
> the grocery store, the mall, the park, etc. I do have a very full life and
> seem to always have a special guardian angel that is more than willing to
> take me and my kids to where we need to go. For example, My daughter is 3
> years old. We found a great friend in her dance class that was so eager 
> and
> happy to take us to and from dance class. It was nice. However, I would 
> love
> to drive. I think it is a very empowering feeling that provides total
> independence.  But whether I drive or not I do feel fulfilled as an
> individual. My life is full and would just be busy with driving my kids 
> and
> their friends to and from places, like the typical soccer mom. I think 
> that
> would be great.
> Mari Hunziker
>
> On Fri, Apr 29, 2011 at 12:30 PM, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> 
> wrote:
>
>> I have heard from many, blind and sighted alike that the blind  being
>> able to drive will be  looked  upon as  something  absolutely iconic
>> and life-changing.  Assuming  that this opinion is in fact widely
>> believed,  what do you think this means for us as blind people now?
>> Also what does it mean, if we never do  drive? Is this to say that our
>> lives  are not full?  Not complete?  And will never be?
>>  I'm curious as to your thoughts  on this.
>>
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>
>
>
> -- 
> *Have A Blessed Day!
> Mari Hunziker
> 512-670-9950 home
> 512-587-1463  cell
> *
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