[nagdu] Crosswalks, the White Cane Law, and Pedestrians in General

[Marion Gwizdala]

Mark,
    Isn't a good smack to get the driver's attention "proper use" of a long 
white cane? (grin)

Marion

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark J. Cadigan" <kramc11 at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 3:30 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Crosswalks, the White Cane Law, and Pedestrians in 
General


> If you are using a cane properly there should be no damage dun to the 
> cars. Especially not to the hood.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "David Baker" <david at bakerinet.com>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 2:06 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Crosswalks, the White Cane Law,and Pedestrians in 
> General
>
>
>> Jewel, the laws vary by state.  In Georgia, for instance, drivers are 
>> required
>> to stop for all pedestrians at all crosswalks (anywhere a street enters 
>> or
>> crosses another street, if there are no markings).  The law is not 
>> followed in
>> practice and one would have to be insane to rely upon it.  I have been 
>> known to
>> whack cars very hard in situations such as yours.  This, however, upsets 
>> my wife
>> terribly.  She is convinced that I am going to have someone jump out of a 
>> nice
>> Ferrari, Lincoln, or ...  and shoot me, or pummel me to a pulp.  (On the 
>> other
>> hand, wisely or not, my roller tip has left some very impressive dents in 
>> some
>> very expensive cars.)  Since some of my generalized anger about having RP 
>> has
>> abated and I still have some central vision left, I now just raise my 
>> cane and
>> point it directly at the driver has he or she whizzes by.  ('Some 
>> satisfaction
>> there, but no where near as cathartic as a good hard whack on the hood.)
>>
>> David
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf Of
>> Jewel S.
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 12:36 PM
>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [nagdu] Crosswalks, the White Cane Law, and Pedestrians in 
>> General
>>
>> Hi guys,
>> The conversation about the White Cane Laws prompted a thought in my mind. 
>> I know
>> that pedestrians, especially those with a white cane or guide dog, must 
>> be given
>> the right of way in crosswalks in intersections, and it was my 
>> understanding
>> that anywhere a blind person steps into the road they are to be given the 
>> right
>> of way for their safety. Please correct me if I'm wrong (I know it varies 
>> from
>> state to state; I'm in North Carolina).
>>
>> Now, my question is, what are the laws for crosswalks in general? Are all
>> pedestrians given right of way in a crosswalk? What about a crosswalk 
>> where
>> there is no light? For example, in a shopping center in Raleigh, there is 
>> a
>> crosswalk across a street in the shopping area that most people don't use
>> because cars never give right-of-way to any pedestrians. I decided to 
>> give it a
>> shot yesterday because I needed to quickly get from one bus stop on one 
>> side to
>> the other bus stop on the exact oppposite side. I stuck out my cane, but 
>> it was
>> ignored, of course. I waited until there was a break in traffic, and 
>> stepped
>> out, at my usual pace for crossing, which is slow by normal standards as 
>> I don't
>> walk fast. So as I was walking across, one car, then another, drove 
>> directly in
>> front of me across the crosswalk, with no thought of stopping or even 
>> slowing
>> down. A third car came within a few feet of me. As I was almost across, a 
>> car
>> did stop for me, but I wonder if it was only because I was directly in 
>> his path?
>>
>> What are the laws about these crosswalks in areas with a lot of 
>> pedestrians? A
>> crosswalk with no crosswalk light and/or not at an intersection? What 
>> about an
>> intersection with no crosswalk? Anyone know where to find these laws? I 
>> have
>> some ideas how to get involved in correcting these problems, if my 
>> assumption is
>> correct that the lack of a light does not excus lack of yielding. Is this
>> correct?
>>
>> Wondering,
>> Jewel
>>
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>
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