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Rep. Don Young Joins the American Council of the Blind in Supporting the Safety of Blind Pedestrians

Washington, DC  20005

April 22 2008

Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) joined with the American Council of the Blind (ACB) today in demonstrating his continued commitment to the safety of blind pedestrians by signing on as a co-sponsor to H.R. 5734, The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2008.

“The auto industry has made amazing technological strides over the past decade that have allowed our automobiles to be more energy efficient and to burn cleaner,” Young said. “This is to be commended, but, as with most advancements in technology, it has given us a newer and different set of issues to look at. Unfortunately, one of the side effects of these newer hybrid cars is that the noise level produced has been greatly reduced, leading to safety issues for those who are visually impaired. The safety of people is something I take very seriously, and for that reason I am proud to be a co-sponsor of H.R. 5734, the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act. I am encouraged that Congress is looking into this issue and that we are looking to do something about this as soon as possible. Let’s continue to use our technology for good and use it to keep people safe.”

“ACB has a long history of being the leader in the blindness community regarding pedestrian safety issues and was pleased to see that much of the language in H.R.5734 mirrored draft legislation our staff had been working to have introduced by Congressman Young,” 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.”

This legislation is being sponsored by Reps. Edolfus "Ed" Towns (D-N.Y.) and Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.).

About H.R. 5734:
The bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study beginning within 90 days of enactment of this legislation, and to complete it within two years of its commencement, at which time, the secretary shall report the study’s findings to Congress. Within 90 days after the conclusion of the study, the secretary is then directed to establish a standard that will take in to account the results of the study, and will set forth the minimum information that must be provided by motor vehicles required for blind and other pedestrians to travel safely and independently in urban, rural, and residential environments. The bill provides that the standard shall apply to all "new motor vehicles."

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 entire 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, 1155 15th Street NW, Suite 1004, Washington, DC 20005; phone (202) 467-5081 or toll-free, 1-800-424-8666.

Sharon Lovering (slovering@acb.org)
Editor
American Council of the Blind
1155 15th St. NW
Washington, DC   20005
Phone : 202-467-5081 ext. 15
Fax : 202-467-5085