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<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br><br>
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>
<a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br><br>
<h1><b>National Federation of the Blind Applauds Issuance of Pedestrian
Safety Enhancement Act Regulations</b></h1><b> <br><br>
Baltimore, Maryland (November 14, 2016):</b> The National Federation of
the Blind commented today on the issuance of regulations by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to implement the Pedestrian
Safety Enhancement Act of 2010, which was passed by Congress and signed
by President Obama to protect the blind and other pedestrians from the
dangers posed by silent hybrid and electric vehicles.<br><br>
Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
said: “Having raised concerns on behalf of blind Americans about the
dangers posed by silent hybrid and electric vehicles, the National
Federation of the Blind is extremely pleased that technical
specifications for a safe level of sound to be emitted by such vehicles
have now been issued. The full implementation of the Pedestrian Safety
Enhancement Act of 2010 will protect all pedestrians, especially the
blind, as well as cyclists. This regulation will ensure that blind
Americans can continue to travel safely and independently as we work,
learn, shop, and engage in all facets of community life.”<br><br>
Studies conducted by NHTSA indicate that, under certain low-speed
scenarios, the odds of hybrid and electric vehicles being involved in
collisions with pedestrians are thirty-five percent higher than those for
comparable internal combustion engine vehicles and that the odds of
hybrid and electric vehicles being involved in collisions with cyclists
are fifty-seven percent higher than for comparable internal combustion
engine vehicles. The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act was passed by
unanimous consent in the United States Senate and by an overwhelming
bipartisan majority vote of 379 to 30 in the House of Representatives. It
was signed by President Obama on January 4, 2011.<br><br>
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About the National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.<br><br>
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