[nagdu] Crosswalks, the White Cane Law, and Pedestrians in General
Albert J Rizzi
albert at myblindspot.org
Wed Mar 24 14:24:16 UTC 2010
You brought the topic back to a sense of reality. We are or should be
talking about city streets or suburban roadways and not as some of us need
to do every day where we live, crossing a six lane highway. But either way,
as a past driver, you and I understand the tremendous responsibility
expected and required when tooling around town in a ton of metal. I wish
everyone driving had that same sense of appreciation and respect for the
privilege of driving.
Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
CEO/Founder
My Blind Spot, Inc.
90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
New York, New York 10004
www.myblindspot.org
PH: 917-553-0347
Fax: 212-858-5759
"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
doing it."
Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of cheryl echevarria
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 10:08 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Crosswalks, the White Cane Law,and Pedestrians in
General
I am going to stick my neck out here, and it is possible going to get cut
off. We are not talking about walking across the Long Island Expressway
here, or I-95 in Florida, we are talking about cross an intersection like
one in the city, or second avenue by me which is a 2 lane road or maybe one
like a four lane road. We are not talking driving 65 mph where it is hard
to stop, but we know that on these roads they do drive this way and should
be getting tickets for speeding.
The car driving 35 mph or less, should have enough time to slow down
especially at a cross walk, if they are paying any kind of attention like
they are supposed to, whether we have a cross walk or crossing in the middle
of the road because the cross walk is 2 miles away.
Drivers are driving a moving vehicle, they are supposed to be in control of
the vehicle if they cannot be they will be fined. If they hit someone
blind, sighted, one eye one horned flying purple people eater (grin), the
driver needs to watch the road, the driver can either slow down or can try
and avoid if at all possible by swerving now that may not be possible since
there could be on going traffic, but you are saying we are partially
responsible like a no fault accident, which means no one as fault in a car
accident, which both parties are responsible for there cars and injuries.
Bur on a side note to all of this. a Yield is to slow down when the light
turns yellow or prior to making a sharp turn and not speed up when the light
turns yellow before it turns red, or taking the turn at the same 65 mph
instead of slowing down to make that turn.
Cheryl Echevarria
Independent Travel Consultant
http://Echevarriatravel.com<http://echevarriatravel.com/>
1-866-580-5574
http://blog.echevarriatravel.com<http://blog.echevarriatravel.com/>
Reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:Reservations at echevarriatravel.com>
Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel CST-1018299-10
----- Original Message -----
From: Marion Gwizdala<mailto:blind411 at verizon.net>
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog
Users<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 9:01 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Crosswalks, the White Cane Law,and Pedestrians in
General
Albert,
I am still unclear about how you expect a vehicle traveling at any
speed
to be able to immediately stop when a pedestrian, whether blind or
sighted,
steps out into traffic. It seems as if you would not only change the
traffic
laws but the laws of physics. Newton's first law of motion states, "An
object in motion will stay in motion unless an outside force acts upon
it!"
and his third law of motion, "For every action there is an equal and
opposite reaction!" Blind guy steps in front of car - crash! The driver is
not at fault!
Marion Gwizdala
----- Original Message -----
From: "Albert J Rizzi"
<albert at myblindspot.org<mailto:albert at myblindspot.org>>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>>
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 6:31 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Crosswalks, the White Cane Law, and Pedestrians in
General
>I think you are right to inform and educate the law enforcement officials
>on
> this key issue. The law is the law, and until the law is properly
enforced
> and exercised we all of us will be at risk for near death and or
> crippling
> outcomes. I do feel the law is clear, when ever a blind pedestrian
steps
> into the crosswalk or into traffic in the ideal world all traffic would
> and
> should stop. But until the education and dissemination of these laws
> happens, you are taking your life in your hands which is what I think
> others
> are alluding to when speaking of our contribution to avoiding such
> accidents and how it would be twisted in a court of law should push come
> to
> shove. The laws are clear to me in north Carolina and it is clear to me
> and
> to you that the traffic should stop immediately, good luck shifting
> perceptions in your town. Make it happen.
>
> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York 10004
> www.myblindspot.org<http://www.myblindspot.org/>
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who
is
> doing it."
>
>
> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto: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<mailto: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>
[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.
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org<http://www.nfbnet.or
g/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org>
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
>>
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/herekittykat2%40gmail
<http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/herekittykat2%40gmai
l>
> .com
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org<http://www.nfbnet.or
g/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org>
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/albert%40myblindspot<
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/albert%40myblindspot>
.
> org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org<http://www.nfbnet.or
g/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org>
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/blind411%40verizon.ne
t<http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/blind411%40verizon.
net>
_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org<http://www.nfbnet.or
g/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org>
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
nagdu:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cherylandmaxx%40hotma
il.com<http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cherylandmaxx%
40hotmail.com>
_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/albert%40myblindspot.
org
More information about the NAGDU
mailing list