[nagdu] Blind Driver Challenge and Quiet Cars

Wed Feb 2 19:43:47 UTC 2011

Hello Cindy and everyone,

    The car most likely had a device installed to emit sound when it was in 
electric mode. I'm not sure if the noise given by this alert made it on to 
the recording. We used a hybrid car to send the message that we're not 
opposed to the use of quiet cars but that they need to have systems 
installed to alert blind and other pedestrians as to their whereabouts. The 
decision to use the Ford Escape Hybrid for the demonstration was a wize one 
on the part of our national leadership.

Peter Donahue

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "PICKRELL, REBECCA M (TASC)" <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 9:07 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind-Drivable Car at Convention

Yeah I noticed that too.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf 
Of Cindy Ray
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 7:30 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind-Drivable Car at Convention

Boy, I'm staying on *my* side of the street after reading this. LOL. You 
know, that car was a "quiet car."

Cindy

On Feb 1, 2011, at 5:54 PM, Tamara Smith-Kinney wrote:

> Fine!  Rain on my parade with boring reality.  /grin/
>
> I have to confess, I enjoy my silly little unrealistic image of whizzing
> down the road (with a shiny red convertible model, naturally!) with my
> poodle in her doggles riding shotgun while we boogie to music on the 
> radio.
>
> You know how I was talking earlier about adults who don't grow up?  I hope 
> I
> did not mistakenly imply that I am not one of them.  /lol/
>
> It will be interesting to see how the technology comes along to support 
> the
> car itself, though.  Seems to me, just at a glance, that there would be
> benefits to more than just us blind people who want to drive.  There could
> be benefits in terms of lessening of traffic congestion (yeah, I dream),
> improved traffic safety, improved pedestrian safety...  Which would 
> improve
> life for this blind person who sometimes just wants to walk a mile up to 
> the
> store for fun but has to consider the safety factors seven ways from 
> Sunday,
> consult the time of day, weather, horosocope...  Then wonder if it's worth
> being lectured by walking beside a killer road (roads don't kill people;
> idiot drivers kill people; often, on this road), etc.  We will not talk
> about trying to cross the road.
>
> So maybe the car blind people can drive would also be a car idiots can 
> drive
> safely?  Or if the car tells them there's a pedestrian crossing the 
> street,
> will they still drive right over it and ignore the thump?  /evil grin/
>
> I did hear on the news just last week about an up and coming technology 
> that
> will allow drivers to join a caravan electronically and leave the driving 
> to
> the lead vehicle while you read a good book, the reporter pointed out
> seriously.  Then, of course, the anchors had fun by listing all the things
> drivers really do in their cars while their driving:  text, read the funny
> pages, do the crossword, put on mascara, drink coffee from one hand and 
> eat
> a donut from the other.... They didn't include changing the baby's diaper 
> on
> the way to daycare, but I have seen that done.
>
> Hm...  So I wonder if the cars of the Blind Driver challenge would help at
> all with the idiot driver challenge?  Now that I've thought about it, I 
> may
> never the cross the street again, though.  I've given myself a case of the
> wild willies for sure!
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Buddy Brannan
> Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 1:24 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind-Drivable Car at Convention
>
> No, there's no strip in the road. Speed strips" are vibraing things that 
> are
> in a cushion under the driver's legs and up his back. These give 
> information
> about whether he can speed up or slow down. The files on blindbargains.com
> are fantastic. BTW, I doubt that any blind people will drive the car on 
> the
> open road. Putting aside the whole issue of not having driver's licenses 
> and
> not being insured, I really don't think that the technology is quite ready
> for real world use. Probably won't be for some time yet. And count on 
> legal
> hurdles and red tape beyond that before we can actually have a car that we
> can drive, and never mind the cost of having such a car modded. Think a 
> van
> with a wheelchair lift is expensive? I'd bet this will be more.
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>
>
>
> On Feb 1, 2011, at 3:23 PM, cheryl echevarria wrote:
>
>> neither did I.
>>
>> The biggest compliment you can pay me is to recommend my services!
>>
>> Cheryl Echevarria
>> http://www.Echevarriatravel.com<http://www.echevarriatravel.com/>
>> 1-866-580-5574 or 631-456-5394
>>
> reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:reservations at echevarriatravel.com>
>>
>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
> CST-1018299-10
>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise and Travel
> Inc.
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: Albert J Rizzi<mailto:albert at myblindspot.org>
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users'<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 3:18 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind-Drivable Car at Convention
>>
>>
>> I did not hear anything  about needing a strip on the road  or anything
> like
>> that to tell you the truth.
>>
>> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>> 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 Cindy Ray
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 3:13 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind-Drivable Car at Convention
>>
>> There are probably plenty of software issues to iron out. Also, as I
>> understand it, mostly the car has to drive on a strip that heops with the
>> sensors, but I could be wrong. Blind Bargains has a podcast of the drive,
>> complete with the crowd there, race announcers, and all, and a press
>> conference. I think it is blindbargains.com though it could be .org.
>>
>>
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