[il-talk] Fw: National Federation of the Blind Commends House forPassage of Safety Legislation

[mgrunwald at sbcglobal.net]

Thanks Debbie, for bringing this issue to the forefront a couple of years 
ago.

Kutos to you.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Deborah Kent Stein" <dkent5817 at att.net>
To: "Multiple recipients of NFBnet il-talk Mailing List" 
<il-talk at NFBnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 2:25 PM
Subject: [il-talk] Fw: National Federation of the Blind Commends House 
forPassage of Safety Legislation


>
> Here's the full scoop.  S.841 went to a vote in the House and was passed 
> 379 to 30 about 45 minutes ago!  Congratulations to all of us!  This has 
> been an enormous effort and thousands of us across the country have taken 
> part.
>
> Debbie
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: Freeh, Jessica
> Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 1:17 PM
> Subject: National Federation of the Blind Commends House for Passage of 
> Safety Legislation
>
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>
> 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."
>
>
>
> ###
>
>
>
>
>
> 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 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: www.nfb.org.
>
>
>
>
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