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<DIV dir=ltr class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
nfbnet-members-list-bounces@nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces@nfbnet.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Freeh,Jessica
(by way of David Andrews <dandrews@visi.com>)<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday,
January 05, 2011 4:16 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Nfbnet-members-list]
President Signs Pedestrian Safety EnhancementAct<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><FONT
size=4 face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><B>FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE<BR><BR></B></FONT><FONT size=5
face="Helvetica, Helvetica"> <BR><BR></FONT><FONT
face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><B>CONTACT:<BR><BR></B>Chris
Danielsen<BR><BR>Director of Public Relations<BR><BR>National Federation of the
Blind<BR><BR>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<BR><BR>(410) 262-1281
(Cell)<BR><BR>cdanielsen@nfb.org<BR><BR></FONT><FONT size=5
face="Helvetica, Helvetica"> <BR><BR></FONT>
<DIV align=center>
<H1><FONT size=4><B>President Signs Pedestrian Safety Enhancement
Act</B></FONT></H1></DIV><B>Washington, D.C. (January 5, 2011):</B> The National
Federation of the Blind today commended President Barrack Obama for signing into
law the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act (S. 841), which will protect the blind
and other pedestrians from injury as a result of silent vehicle technology.
<BR><BR>�The National Federation of the Blind is pleased that this critical
legislation has been signed into law, preserving the right to safe and
independent travel for the blind,� said Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the
National Federation of the Blind. �The blind, like all pedestrians, must
be able to travel to work, to school, to church, and to other places in our
communities, and we must be able to hear vehicles in order to do so. This
law, which is the result of collaboration among blind Americans, automobile
manufacturers, and legislators, will benefit all pedestrians for generations to
come as new vehicle technologies become more prevalent. We look forward to
working with the Department of Transportation throughout the regulatory
process.�<BR><BR>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, bicyclists, runners, 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.<BR><BR>
<DIV align=center><B>###<BR><BR></B></DIV> <BR><BR> <BR><BR><B>About
the National Federation of the Blind<BR><BR><BR></B>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. Please visit our Web site: <A
href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</A>.<BR><BR> <BR><BR> <BR></BODY></HTML>