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

[Susan Jones]

It sounds like you are reading it right.
Susan & Rhoda
 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Jewel S.
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 5:40 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Crosswalks, the White Cane Law,and Pedestrians in
General

This is what I found on North Carolina's White Cane Laws (part of the
generalized Pedestrian Laws, which gives pedestrians right of way at a
corsswalk not controlled by a crosswalk light or traffic light):

"Part 11A. Blind Pedestrians - White Canes or Guide Dogs.

"Section 20-175-1. Public use of white canes by other than blind persons
prohibited.
it shall be unlawful for any person, except one who is wholly or partially
blind, to carry or use on any street or highway, or in any other public
place, a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white tipped with
red. (1949, c. 324, s. 1.)

"Section 20-175.2. Right-of-way at crossings, intersections and
traffic-control signal points; white cane or guide dog to serve as signal
for the blind.
At any street, road or highway crossing or intersection, where the movement
of traffic is not regulated by a traffic officer or by traffic-control
signals, any blind or partially blind pedestrian shall be entitled to the
right-of-way at such crossing or intersection, if such blind or partially
blind pedestrian shall extend before him at arm's length a cane white in
color or white tipped with red, or if such person is accompanied by a guide
dog. Upon receiving such a signal, all vehicles at or approaching such
intersection or crossing shall come to a full stop, leaving a clear lane
through which such pedestrian may pass, and such vehicle shall remain
stationary until such blind or partially blind pedestrian has completed
passage of such crossing or intersection. At any street, road or highway
crossing or intersection, where the movement of traffic is regulated by
traffic-control signals, blind or partially blind pedestrians shall be
entitled to the right-of-way if such person having such cane or accompanied
by a guide dog shall be partly across such crossing or intersection at the
time the traffic-control signals change, and all vehicles shall stop and
remain stationary until such pedestrian has completed passage across the
intersection or crossing. (1949, c. 324, s. 2.)

"Section 20-175.3. Rights and privileges of blind persons without white cane
or guide dog.
Nothing contained in this Part shall be construed to deprive any blind or
partially blind person not carrying a cane white in color or white tipped
with red, or being accompanied by a guide dog, of any of the rights and
privileges conferred by law upon pedestrians crossing streets and highways,
nor shall the failure of such blind or partially blind person to carry a
cane white in color or white tipped with red, or to be accompanied by a
guide dog, upon the streets, roads, highways or sidewalks of this State, be
held to constitute or be evidence of contributory negligence by virtue of
this Part. (1949, c. 324, s. 3.)"

If I am reading this right, this means that if I extend my white cane in
front of me at arm's length at the crosswalk, all cars are to come to a full
stop until I am completely across. Am I reading this right?
If so, I need to talk to the ocal police about working to enforce this law,
because no one is actually following it, and I often have difficulty getting
across crosswalks even when the light is with me, let alone at a crosswalk
that is not controlled by a traffic light

~Jewel

On 3/23/10, David Baker <david at bakerinet.com> wrote:
>  Good cane technique and good judgment would preclude using it as a 
> weapon against a car.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Mark J. Cadigan
> Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 3:30 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> 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.
>
>
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