[Nfbf-l] White Cane Safety PSA

[sabrina deaton]

Hey Everyone,
I thought you might be interested in this.
Sabrina Deaton
 
 
Channel 42 to air ad featuring blind people struck by vehicles
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By CHRISTINA DeNARDO
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 23, 2008
BOYNTON BEACH — David Evans felt his walking stick being pulled out of his hand. When he put out his hands, he felt the front bumper of a car. 
"When I yelled and hit my fist on the trunk of her car, she finally stopped," said Evans, who is blind. It wasn't the first time he was hit by a car, and he's not alone. Though no one keeps statistics, advocates for the disabled say the blind are frequently the victims of automobile accidents.
It's a plight that Vision World Foundation wants to bring to the attention of drivers through a public service announcement featuring real accident victims, including Evans.
The 30-second spot, which is being produced by WXEL-TV Channel 42, was shot last week and will begin airing over the next few weeks. 
"There is an attitude here that people believe that if you have a green light it means go - even if there is someone in the crosswalk," said Barry Snyder, a personal injury lawyer who has represented disabled clients hit by drivers. "And if you are in the middle of the road, you're fair game." 
Ren'ee Rentmeester, who created a television cooking show for blind people produced by Vision World Foundation, said she didn't have to go far to find blind people who have been hit by cars. Some, like Evans, have been hit several times. 
Until a few years ago, the Florida Outreach Center for the Blind held white cane safety days at local intersections to publicize how the blind rely on drivers when crossing intersections. One year, about 40 blind people were taking part in the event when a truck blew through a red light. They stopped the event for safety reasons. 
"They don't stop and make sure anyone is coming," said Allen Preston, who was also featured in the announcement.
Preston uses a guide dog, which he credits for minimizing his brushes with aggressive drivers.
"If I'm at a busy intersection, people who wouldn't normally stop for a pedestrian see the dog, and they slow down." 
Besides aggressive drivers, advocates say that many accidents are caused by people making right turns at stop signs or at stop lights. The drivers often look to the left for traffic but neglect to check if anyone is crossing from the right.
The popularity of hybrid cars may be good for the environment, but because the cars are quiet, many blind people can't hear them and if drivers aren't looking, accidents happen. 
Some advocates like Evans, who serves as the president of the Palm Beach Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, are pushing Congress to force manufacturers to make quiet cars beep when they are backing up. In the meantime, they say their safety is in the hands of drivers. 
"We have to rely on drivers following the rules of the road," he said.
 
Creator/Executive Producer
"Cooking Without Looking"
The First TV Show Created Especially for Blind/ Visually Impaired People
Promoting Eye Care Awareness for Everyone!

Founder/President
Vision World Foundation

Creator/Executive Producer