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

[Deborah Kent Stein]

Thanks to everyone who pitched in and did what needed to be done.   It's 
been a long road!

Debbie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <mgrunwald at sbcglobal.net>
To: "NFB of Illinois Mailing List" <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 4:18 PM
Subject: Re: [il-talk] Fw: National Federation of the Blind Commends 
HouseforPassage of Safety Legislation


> 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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>
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