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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica" size=4><b>FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE<br><br>
</b></font><font face="Helvetica, Helvetica" size=5> <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 face="Helvetica, Helvetica" size=5> <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>
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<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>
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