[nabs-l] Pedestrian safety improvement act

Fri Apr 24 07:25:26 UTC 2009

I think the person who mentioned the deaf-blind has a really good point.  I
know someone who is in that situation and not hearing traffic and stuff
makes travel more difficult.  I wish we could take this as an oppertunity to
research a solution for both since now the problem is the same i.e. not
hearing cars.
Bill VP
Oregon Association of Blind Students
503-768-8982
cassonw at gmail.com

On Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 10:51 PM, jonte <jonte711 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Maybe a sound device in the cane is not very feasible, but I really do not
> think that the car companies are going to be extremely concerned with
> accommodating small minorities. Convincing them to put a sound device in
> these hybrid cars will take a very long time. I think that we should first
> explore all possible alternatives.
> Jonte
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Jacobson <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 10:09 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> >
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Pedestrian safety improvement act
>
> Unfortunately, we can't just express a want for something and think that
> can make it happen.  Try to first think how a
> hybrid car would be detectable among all the other cars.  Then try to
> imagine what sort of
> feedback could be given by your cane that could be equal to even a small
> sound heard with your ears.  It just isn't
> practical as far as I can see, and a small sound would also be useful to
> children and other pedestrians.  I don't know
> how the laws read, bot most large trucks and fork lifts have loud warning
> beeps when they move already to warn
> everybody.  We're asking for much less to avoid situations that could be
> much more dangerous.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Steve Jacobson
>
> >Original message:
> >> 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."
>
>
>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> nabs-l mailing list
> >>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> >>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> >>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> >>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/spangler.robert%40gmail.com
>
>
> >> --
> >> Robert Spangler
> >> The University of Toledo
> >> Student Senate - Recording Secretary
> >> Ohio Association of Blind Students - President
>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> nabs-l mailing list
> >> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> >>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/jonte711%40gmail.com
>
>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> nabs-l mailing list
> >> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> >>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/loneblindjedi%40samobile.net
>
> >--
> >REspectfully,
> >Jedi
>
> >Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
> >www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.
>
> >_______________________________________________
> >nabs-l mailing list
> >nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> >http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> >To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> >
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/steve.jacobson%40visi.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/jonte711%40gmail.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/cassonw%40gmail.com
>