[nagdu] Driver awareness

Sat Mar 20 12:58:11 UTC 2010

Jewell, great ideas.  I have one other suggestion that I have been trying to
push here in Wisconsin, and in fact we will be doing this through our La
Crosse Chapter this fall.  Remember, white cane awareness day really focuses
on the awareness aspect, right?  Now, this will take some more in-depth
research, and connecting with our peers, but the greater question is what
would make one really think more about what this white cane law really means
and why it was passed by each of our States?  As I had thought about this,
the answer was actually simple, and that was to have a memorial on this day
that is represented by white canes stuck in the ground symbolizing those who
have either lost their lives or were injured while using a white cane, empty
harnesses for guides who have either been killed in the line of duty, or
injured to the point of never being able to work again and all because of
the ignorance factor to the white cane law by the greater public...it would
make me definitely stop and think.  In fact, I would love to see the
National office implement something like this, as it takes the idea of
awareness to a whole different level.  

A good friend of mine and his guide were struck by a car here in La Crosse
about 10 years ago now, sustained very severe injuries and the dog as well
eventually ending up in retirement.  We all know of stories like this, or
even worse, we all have had *close calls" where our canes have been bumped
or hit by vehicles, bicycles or in our cases, we have had our guides perform
those unexpected traffic checks which is telling me that that 10foot law was
just violated.  We also have have vehicles turn right on red making this law
ineffective as well...I really hate this particular law in Wisconsin.  But
my point is that as we think about how many times in a given month or
calendar year despite the level of our O&M skills, it still happens, and
unfortunately, despite our efforts over the years to educate the greater
sighted public tragedy does occur.  So folks, this is my proposal to kick
white cane awareness day to a whole different level.  I would definitely
appreciate your thoughts and if you want to email me off-line:
stevencjohnson at centurytel.net.

Thanks,

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Jewel S.
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 6:17 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Driver awareness

I considered doing a white can and guide dog awareness program in the
Raleigh area this year with White Cane Safety Day. I was thinking of doing
posters that say "Stop for white canes and guide dogs...it's the law!" with
small print below it explaining the White Cane Law and giving a website to
visit for more information. I am hoping to ask the DMV if we can put up
these posters in the DMV offices, and hope to also distribute them to Driver
Schools and Driver's Ed classes in the area. I had never heard of the White
Cane Law before I went blind. I was a driver, but I didn't know that I was
supposed to yield to blind pedestrians, just pedestrians in general. I was
16 in Driver's Ed...what teenager reads the manual from cover to cover? I
sure didn't, naughy I know.

My two cents,
Jewel

On 3/19/10, Tamara Smith-Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net> wrote:
> 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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