[stylist] Florida article on quiet cars & accidents with blindpeople

Tue Nov 25 17:09:59 UTC 2008

Well, I don't know about beeping. We have enough beepers already messing up
sound patterns. Anything is better than nothing though. If the car in
question was actually made to sound like a car, that would be best.

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Donna Hill
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 8:59 AM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org; Performing Arts Division list
Subject: [stylist] Florida article on quiet cars & accidents with
blindpeople

Hi all,
This just appeared on the NFB of PA list, and I thought it might interest
you.  Also, since the article says that no one keeps statistics, I'm
wondering if anyone has had a close encounter with a car
-- quiet or otherwise.
Donna
***
Channel 42 to air ad featuring blind people struck by vehicles 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.

 Find this article at:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/11

 /23/a1b_psa_1124.html 

__._,_.___

--
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