Statistics tell us that an average of 5,000 pedestrians die per year on our nation’s streets and another 70,000 more are injured. Blind and visually impaired individuals are struck and killed by cars at a more alarming rate. The rate of accidents involving pedestrians who are blind and visually impaired is on the rise as our nation’s streets and intersections become more complex and as the blind population increases. By 2010, it is expected that there will be 20 million visually impaired people over the age of 45!
The passage of Congressional resolutions H.CON.RES. 235 and S.CON.RES. 71 will play a pivotal role in reducing the number of deaths and injuries that occur from pedestrian accidents. These resolutions will encourage states to require that driver’s license candidates demonstrate, as a condition for obtaining a license, the ability to exercise increased caution when driving in the proximity of an individual who uses a white cane or guide dog.
This legislation is supported not only by leading national blindness organizations in the U.S. such as the Blinded Veterans Association and the American Foundation for the Blind, but also by the Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.
H.CON.RES. 235 (House Concurrent Resolution 235) introduced by Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL)
Current Co-sponsors of H.CON.RES. 235
Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL)
Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-SD)
Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA)
Rep. Vic Snyder (D-AR)
Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA)
Rep. Michael Michaud (D-ME)
Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY)
Rep. Richard H. Baker (R-LA)
Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC)
S.CON.RES. 71 (Senate Concurrent Resolution 71) introduced by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Current Co-sponsors of S.CON.RES. 71
Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI)
Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO)
Sen. John Thune (R-SD)
1. Last year the House of Representatives passed this resolution in the 108th Congress. This resolution was simply overlooked and thus failed to be included in the highway bill that was signed into law last year.
2. This is not going to cost the federal government money, affect any federal law, or mandate anything. H.CON.RES. 235 and S.CON.RES. 71 are Congressional resolutions and thereby simply express the sense of Congress that states should require that driver’s license candidates demonstrate, as a condition for obtaining a license, the ability to exercise increased caution when driving in the proximity of an individual who uses a white cane or guide dog.
3. Passing H.CON.RES. 235 and S.CON.RES. 71 will potentially save lives.
ACB urges Congress to pass H.CON.RES. 235 and S.CON.RES. 71.
We ask that your legislator:
1. Co-sponsor the legislation.
2. Contact colleagues about supporting the legislation.