[Nfbk] FW: Key Stakeholders Agree on Measures to Protect Blind Pedestrians from Silent Cars

[Cathy]

-----Original Message-----
From: Freeh, Jessica [mailto:JFreeh at nfb.org]
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 11:34 AM
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Patti Chang; Rena Smith; Richard Gaffney; Ron Brown; Ron Gardner; Sam
Gleese; Scott LaBarre; Selena Sundling-Crawford
Subject: Key Stakeholders Agree on Measures to Protect Blind Pedestrians
from Silent Cars


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

cdanielsen at nfb.org



Key Stakeholders Agree on Measures to
Protect Blind Pedestrians from Silent Cars
Urge Passage as Part of Motor Vehicle Safety Act


Baltimore, Maryland (May 19, 2010): The National Federation of the Blind
(NFB), the American Council of the Blind (ACB), the Alliance of Automobile
Manufacturers (AAM), and the Association of International Automobile
Manufacturers (AIAM) announced today that they have agreed on proposed
legislative language that will protect blind pedestrians and others from the
danger posed by silent vehicle technology. The four organizations are urging
Congress to adopt and pass the language as part of the Motor Vehicle Safety
Act of 2010-which is currently pending in both houses of Congress-as quickly
as possible.  The proposed language would require the Department of
Transportation to promulgate a motor vehicle safety standard requiring
automobiles to emit a minimum level of sound to alert the blind and other
pedestrians.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
"The National Federation of the Blind commends the automobile industry for
its leadership on this issue and for its genuine concern for the safety of
blind Americans, cyclists, runners, small children, and other pedestrians.
We look forward to working with the parties to this agreement, the United
States Congress, and the Department of Transportation to ensure that America
's streets remain safe, both for those who drive and for those who do not."



"Good policy is a collaborative effort, and this is a good approach for
pedestrians and automakers," said Dave McCurdy, President and CEO of the
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.



Because blind pedestrians cannot locate and evaluate traffic using their
vision, they must listen to traffic to discern its speed, direction, and
other attributes in order to travel safely and independently.  Other people,
including pedestrians who are not blind, cyclists, runners, seniors, and
small children, also benefit from hearing the sound of vehicle engines.  New
vehicles that employ hybrid or electric engine technology can be silent,
rendering them extremely dangerous in situations where vehicles and
pedestrians come into proximity with each other.



A recent report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) stated that hybrid and electric vehicles are nearly
twice as likely to be involved in accidents with pedestrians as vehicles
with internal combustion engines.





###





About the National Federation of the Blind


With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the
largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the
United States.  The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy,
education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and
self-confidence.  It is the leading force in the blindness field today and
the voice of the nation's blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the
National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and
training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.




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