A Call To Action for Blind People Everywhere

I can't stress enough how important it is for everyone to read this and take action, SOON!!!
Currently in Congress, there is legislation called the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act, bill number: HR734. This legislation calls on the Secretary of Transportation, who by the way is former Illinois 18th District Representative Ray Lahood, to conduct research on an appropriate sound standard so that we who are blind as well as other pedestrians will be able to hear quiet cars. The Secretary has up to two years to come up with a standard and begin to implement it.

Put much simpler, this legislation will save lives! Many reaing this have seen quiet cars demonstrated. If the fact that you cannot hear these cars either when they are stopped or operating at low speed doesn't strike fear into your heart as someone who is blind, as it does me, I don't know what will! Our very ability to continue to travel independently is threatened by quiet cars.

But, each of us can begin to do something about it. Contact your Congressional representative's office and ask that they sign onto HR734 as a co-sponsor. When you contact your representative, you need to personalize the issue. Talk about how you travel to and from work or other places and how you use audible traffic cues to cross streets. It would not hurt to mention that this legislation is supported by both ACB and NFB. Tell your representative that if HR734 is not passed, you may be forced to use paratransit if that option is available to you, which costs far more to provide than does fixed route transit.

Don't just call one time and forget it. I would suggest you call every two weeks until they sign onto HR734. After they sign on, thank them. Don't worry about bugging these folks, remember, they are elected by us and they work for us! If your representative is at home, either arrange to meet with them at their district office or attend any town hall meetings they may have in your area. We only have a total of 62 co-sponsors at this writing on HR734. We need many more. If we get to 100, this triggers a subcommittee hearing. While sometimes we hear about legislation and wonder how we are affected, it cannot be more clear how we are affected by HR734.

Currently, there is no companion bill in the United States Senate to HR734. When we get this bill through the House or if a companion bill is introduced in the Senate, Iwill keep you informed. You can keep watch on the progress of HR734 by visiting thomas.loc.gov or by contacting your representative's office.