[Tektalkdiscussion] Fw: Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act Reintroduced in House

[Bob Acosta]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ardis Bazyn" <abazyn at bazyncommunications.com>
To: <CCB-L at googlegroups.com>; "blind students of California" 
<California-BlindStudents at googlegroups.com>; <rsva-l at acb.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 8:07 AM
Subject: Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act Reintroduced in House


> For Immediate Release
>
> Contact: Eric Bridges
>
> (202) 467-5081
>
> Congress Reintroduces Legislation to Protect Blind Pedestrians
>
> 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.
>
> Eric Bridges
>
> Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
>
> American Council of the Blind
>
> 2200 Wilson Blvd. Suite 650
>
> Arlington, VA 22201
>
> Phone: (202) 467-5081
>
> Fax: (703) 465-5085
> Ardis Bazyn
> For inspirational speaking, business coaching, or writing: 
> www.bazyncommunications.com
>