[nagdu] White Cane laws

[Albert J Rizzi]

Here here!

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
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"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
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-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 1:07 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] White Cane laws

Tracy,

I'm so sorry!  I didn't know that had happened to you.  It must have been
awful for a long, long time after the fact.  And I'm sure whatever recourse
you received was not worth the loss.  I'm glad you're well and still living
your life.

While I am glad the white cane laws and pedestrian laws underlying them do
give me some added rights and protections.  Greater awareness and greater
enforcement does and will give us better odds of traveling safely through
our daily lives.

There will still be those people who disengage brain before turning key, but
the more drivers who are aware of the law, of their responsibilities as
drivers, and of the consequences of their not taking their responsibilities
seriously when they're behind the wheel, the better off we'll all be.

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Tracy Carcione
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 5:23 AM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nagdu] White Cane laws

Could we possibly get back to discussing better enforcement of White Cane
laws, and drop all the sniping?  Or is it the concensus that the White
Cane laws are outmoded, and we should just let them drop and ignore them?
I'm not asking for someone else to be responsible for my safety, but I am
asking that the drivers take their share of responsibility.  They are the
ones in charge of the vehicle that is a lot faster and heavier than I am.
I am especially concerned with new quieter cars becoming more common. 
I've lost count of the times my dog has stopped short, then I've heard the
car whizzing by in front of us.

I personally know 3 people who've been hit.  One was crossing with the
light when a bus turned on top of her, and she was killed.  One was
crossing a quiet street, when some old fool came speeding around a blind
corner and hit her.  Now she has to use a wheelchair.  And one was me,
trying to cross a street to get home during an ice storm.  There wasn't
enough traffic, and there wasn't anyone around to ask, and I probably
misjudged the traffic light.  My dog was killed.

Two of these accidents could have been avoided, if the driver were paying
propper attention.  We have laws on the books that say they should be
particularly careful when a blind pedestrian is in the street.  I'd like
to see greater awareness of those laws.  It doesn't seem so much to ask,
to save a life.
Tracy



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