[nabs-l] Pedestrian safety improvement act

Fri Apr 24 03:39:40 UTC 2009

Well, true you would think bicyclists typically have good eyesight, but 
hearing is still important.  As for the cane, you're dealing with a lot of 
variables, for example, how would it distinguish a hybrid car from any other 
car?  I mean,, look, somebody still has yet to come up with an effective 
cane that detects overhanging objects and the like, much less an object 
moving at 50 mph.

Dezman
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "jonte" <jonte711 at gmail.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 9:49 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Pedestrian safety improvement act

> Dezman,
> Good point about the safety of children; though I think bicyclists really 
> should be able to see where they are going and avoid any accidents.
> I'm not a technical genius, but wouldn't it be possible to invent a 
> mechanism in the cane that beeps or vibrates in close proximity to a 
> hybrid car? As for the device going dead or failing, I admit that I don't 
> know what would happen in that situation. So, I pose the same question to 
> you. What if the device that you want the car companies to install in the 
> hybrid cars were to malfunction?
> Technology is not infallible.
> Jonte
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dezman Jackson <jackson.dezman at gmail.com>
> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 9:09 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list 
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Pedestrian safety improvement act
>
> Jonte,
>
> Remember what we're fighting for will benefit all pedestrians, the blind,
> bicyclists, children, etc.  I don't know how feasible it would be to
> manufacture and sell such a cane to the blind.  How much would it drive up
> the price?  What about when the device goes dead or otherwise fails?
>
> Dezman
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "jonte" <jonte711 at gmail.com>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 8:43 PM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Pedestrian safety improvement act
>
>
>> How about putting a mechanism in the cane that detects the hybrid car? I
>> think that would be much more effective than trying to persuade the car
>> companies to accommodate us.
>> Jonte
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Robert Spangler <spangler.robert at gmail.com>
>> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 8:06 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Pedestrian safety improvement act
>>
>> I totally agree with you but I think you misunderstand the legislation.
>>  It is not necessarily saying that we have to cause setbacks in hybrid
>> cars or even how we should be able to hear them.  It simply states that
>> the department of transportation would have to research it.  It can be
>> done without being a hinderance--there could be a mechanism on the car
>> that would make a sound whose speed changes with the speed of the car.
>> And let's remember that we don't want noise; we just want something that
>> is audible.  I think that most blind people would agree with sighted
>> people that they don't want loud trucks driving past their houses.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Robby
>>
>> Jim Reed wrote:
>>> Hello,
>>> I am not quite sure how to feel on this issue. On one hand, quiet cars
>>> might pose a saftey risk to blind persons and others, but on the other
>>> hand, there is such a thing as noise pollution, air pollution, 
>>> dependence
>>> on forign oil, and enviromental damage.
>>>
>>> Aditionally, there is another element of this issue related to the
>>> support or hinderance of societal progress. Hybrids represent the next
>>> great leap in our society, if additional laws are passed regulating this
>>> development, it may prove to hinder the development of the hybrid car.
>>> Remember, the impact of hybrid cars isnt just a blindness issue, there
>>> are much more importiant nation issues at stake. For example, national
>>> security risk via a dependence of forign oil.
>>>
>>> There are also economic concerns. The continued research and development
>>> of hybrids, alternative fuels, and  "green" energy, will potentially be
>>> the savior of our economy. If hybrids become the next big thing, they
>>> could jumpstart the nearly dead auto industry, thus helping our economy
>>> and individual families. If you go to the national convention in 
>>> Detroit,
>>> you will all see first hand the conciquences of this current economic
>>> collapes. Now is the time to be supporting industy and inovation, not
>>> hindering it.
>>>
>>> Lastly, if blind independence is truely the goal of the NFB and blind
>>> persons, then the burden is on us -- blind people-- to adapt to the
>>> changing world, the burden is not on the world to adapt to us. Perhaps 
>>> in
>>> the era of silent cars, it may be time to tweak cane-travel
>>> methodologies?
>>>
>>> I can't support this. I will not be a party to the hinderance of 
>>> societal
>>> progress, continued enviromental degradfation,  or further economic
>>> decline. I will not expect industy or tax payers to foot the bill 
>>> because
>>> I (we) refuse to adapt.
>>>
>>> Well thats my two cents
>>> Jim
>>>
>>> "Ignorance killed the cat; curiosity was framed."
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>> -- 
>> Robert Spangler
>> The University of Toledo
>> Student Senate - Recording Secretary
>> Ohio Association of Blind Students - President
>>
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>
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