[Njagdu] [Fwd: [nagdu] vehicular homicide]

[MS S TILLETT]

Not a bad idea.  I guess we would have to go into our local high school?  I wonder if the laws are in the book the kids have to study to get their license?  A law isn't going to keep you alive.  

Sue, Wonder, and Gillah
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tracy Carcione 
  To: njagdu at nfbnet.org 
  Sent: Friday, August 26, 2011 2:27 PM
  Subject: [Njagdu] [Fwd: [nagdu] vehicular homicide]


  On the Nagdu list, we have been discussing the latest blind person killed
  by a careless driver, who will probably not be charged with anything. 
  Well, that's my guess.
  One of the list members suggested having Nagdu members talk to drivers' Ed
  classes about pedestrians, and especially blind pedestrians.  There are
  laws to protect us, but most people are unaware of them.  Many drivers
  seem completely unaware of pedestrians at all.
  I'd like to work on something like this, though I'm not sure where to
  start.  Is anyone else interested?
  Tracy

  ---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
  Subject: [nagdu] vehicular homicide
  From:    "Jenine Stanley" <jeninems at wowway.com>
  Date:    Fri, August 26, 2011 11:52 am
  To:      "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog
  Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------

  In August 2009 my mother was killed when a car swerved left of center and
  hit her car. The driver said he'd fallen asleep momentarily after working a
  night shift. This happened at 1:00pm on a bright sunny day.

  He was charged with several things but vehicular homicide was the charge for
  my mother's death. Reckless operation was another charge as was failure to
  provide insurance coverage.

  One might say it was purely an accident as he didn't intend to kill anyone.

  He has served his time in prison and is without his license for the next 6
  years with a permanent ban if he violates parole.

  I say all this to note that blind, sighted, or even canine, the penalties
  for striking and killing someone with a vehicle are much less than you may
  think. We were shocked at the 6 month jail term with 2 year probation and
  license restrictions. He can't even drive to work.

  I do feel for the drivers here but again, it's their responsibility to look
  out for pedestrians and drive accordingly. Same thing with assured clear
  distance for the second driver. That's why such a law exists btw, to give
  you time to stop or swerve. Hello?

  I live in a neighborhood with no sidewalks and some curving roads. I take
  every precaution to assure that my dog and I are visible both during the day
  and in low lighting and I mind which side of the street I walk on at the
  curves to be most visible. I expect drivers in the area to do their part as
  well. We are lucky to have local police for our village versus the city of
  Columbus police with far fewer patrols, but that won't help me if someone
  swerves just that tiny bit.

  Maybe a good initiative for NAGDU would be to start speaking to local
  Driver's Ed classes about how blind people travel and what the pedestrian
  laws are for your state and local areas. I believe one of the GDUI chapters
  did this, maybe in Maine, and ended up getting 1 or 2 questions about what
  to do when encountering a blind pedestrian on their state driver's test.

  Jenine Stanley
  jeninems at wowway.com




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