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Congress Reintroduces Legislation to Protect Blind Pedestrians
Arlington, VA
Thursday, January 29, 2009
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2009 – Congressmen Edolphus "Ed" Towns (D-N.Y.) and Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) have proudly introduced H.R. 734, The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. This legislation mirrors a previously introduced initiative in the 110th Congress. The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act would require the Department of Transportation to research and ultimately set forth a standard for minimum information that must be provided by hybrid and electric vehicles required for blind and other pedestrians to travel safely and independently in urban, rural, and residential environments.
"ACB has a long history of being the leader in the blindness community regarding pedestrian safety issues," said Mitch Pomerantz, President of the American Council of the Blind.
When vision is reduced or completely eliminated as a means of understanding and responding to one's environment, an individual's hearing takes over as the primary source of environmental information. Traditionally, people who are blind or visually impaired have learned to rely on their hearing to navigate safely across streets and through other vehicular ways, such as parking lots. In so doing, the sound of traffic is their primary focus. Traffic sounds provide information about such things as the position of vehicles, their direction of travel, and the speed at which they are likely to move. With this information, the pedestrian can make informed decisions about when to cross a street or other vehicular ways safely.
Pomerantz said, "This issue is one that the entire blindness community is united in supporting. I urge ACB membership to contact their members of Congress to ask them to co-sponsor this legislation, as this is an opportunity to bring real change and make blind pedestrians' lives safer"
About ACB
The American Council of the Blind is the largest consumer-based organization of blind and visually impaired Americans advocating for the rights of blind Americans. Comprised of more than 70 affiliates across the United States, the organization is dedicated to making it possible for blind and visually impaired Americans to participate fully in every aspect of American society.
For more information about the American Council of the Blind, and the issues it supports, visit www.acb.org or contact the American Council of the Blind, 2200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 650, Arlington, VA 22201; phone (202) 467-5081 or toll-free, 1-800-424-8666.
"ACB has a long history of being the leader in the blindness community regarding pedestrian safety issues," said Mitch Pomerantz, President of the American Council of the Blind.
When vision is reduced or completely eliminated as a means of understanding and responding to one's environment, an individual's hearing takes over as the primary source of environmental information. Traditionally, people who are blind or visually impaired have learned to rely on their hearing to navigate safely across streets and through other vehicular ways, such as parking lots. In so doing, the sound of traffic is their primary focus. Traffic sounds provide information about such things as the position of vehicles, their direction of travel, and the speed at which they are likely to move. With this information, the pedestrian can make informed decisions about when to cross a street or other vehicular ways safely.
Pomerantz said, "This issue is one that the entire blindness community is united in supporting. I urge ACB membership to contact their members of Congress to ask them to co-sponsor this legislation, as this is an opportunity to bring real change and make blind pedestrians' lives safer"
About ACB
The American Council of the Blind is the largest consumer-based organization of blind and visually impaired Americans advocating for the rights of blind Americans. Comprised of more than 70 affiliates across the United States, the organization is dedicated to making it possible for blind and visually impaired Americans to participate fully in every aspect of American society.
For more information about the American Council of the Blind, and the issues it supports, visit www.acb.org or contact the American Council of the Blind, 2200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 650, Arlington, VA 22201; phone (202) 467-5081 or toll-free, 1-800-424-8666.
Sharon Lovering
Editor
American Council of the Blind
Arlington, VA
202-467-5081
202-467-5085
