[nagdu] Driver awareness

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Tracy,

I've been thinking along those lines, as well, for when I get the rest of my
life put back together and can get back to being a useful  member of the
community.  Last time I took a driver's test in Oregon, I think white cane
laws and even guide dogs were mentioned in the driver's manual, and I even
remember smiling when a white cane showed up on my test.

I don't know if that's still the case, though.  I'm surprised by the number
of people who are also drivers who will ask what that stick is for, in a
tone to suggest they think it's an odd thing for me to have.  That always
makes my  hair stand on end, since they will probably be going to their care
and zipping out of the parking lot about the time I'm ready to cross the
street.  Happy thought!

So I will try to gently and humorously mention that I'm blind, which they
find to be shocking information.  But they still want to know what the white
stick is for, then.  So I explain it to them and give a little
demonstration, but I'm still pretty shocked that an adult living in a city
would not know that.  Especially if they  have a driver's license!

So I would like to see more publicity here on the subject, to remind people
that there are laws to protect pedestrians in general, and that there are a
couple of extra laws to give those of us who can't see them coming or run
across the crosswalk before they can run us down by turning the corner
without looking.

I haven't brought it up with our chapter yet, in terms of white cane
publicity, because I still don't have enough pieces of my life put back in
place to be a regularly attending, functioning member.  Sigh.  I do have it
on my list for when...  The majority of guide dog users around here are ACB,
so I will need to get involved in GDUO, too, I guess, if I want to round up
some interest.

I haven't thought about the blind sting, but it would be a great idea,
especially if it's well-publicized.  I know a street crossing they can use
and someone who would be happy to stand waiting for two drivers who know the
pedestrian laws to stop so she can cross.  /grin/

The people who pass their driver's test and toss out the manual from their
brains as they chuck the book physically into the trash are the real
problem, though.  What's to be done about them, I don't know, since they
have chosen to turn off their brains before they turn the key.  We just have
to watch out for them, I guess. /smile/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Tracy Carcione
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 11:47 AM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: njagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nagdu] Driver awareness

Tammi's comments about the man whose dog was killed while they were
crossing the street brings to my mind an issue I'd like to work on, if
anyone has any idea how to do it effectively.
I'm pretty sure that the White Cane laws require a driver to yield to a
blind pedestrian.  If a blind person is in the crosswalk, either with a
dog or a cane, the driver is supposed to wait for the blind person to
cross.
I saw that in the NJ law when I was looking up guide dog law, and I almost
laughed.  I had no idea!  Almost no one does it!  There are streets around
here where I hesitate to cross even with the light because it's very
likely that someone will come zooming around the corner in front of me. 
And, if I wait for all the turners, I don't have time to cross.  So, if I
can, I cross someplace less hairy.
My husband and I were shocked a few years ago in San Francisco.  We
crossed a street at the wrong time, not being familiar with the traffic
patterns, and the drivers waited for us to get across!  We were amazed. 
Wouldn't happen In Jersey.  I don't think it happens in California all the
time, either.

Is there a way to educate drivers not to turn on top of pedestrians, or
especially blind pedestrians?  I don't want to make us out to be poor
pathetic people, but I don't want to get run over by some guy who thinks
somehow I will jump out of the way or something.  Ben is very good with
traffic--it's one of the reasons I chose TSE--but we're only flesh and
blood, and there's only so much we can do.

I remember Marion saying how his chapter set up a sting of sort, and had a
blind guy crossing the street and a cop ticketing the people who cut him
off.  I've mentioned it to the New York City chapter, but they were not
interested. Is it such a bad idea?  Is there a better way?

Could a question about White Cane laws be added to the driver's test? 
Could there be something about it in Drivers Ed for high school kids?  Or
is it hopeless, and we just have to take our chances?  Well, we have to
take our chances anyway, but maybe we could improve the odds?
Any ideas?
Tracy



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