RESOLUTION 2000-01

WHEREAS
blind and visually impaired persons do not drive automobiles, and are therefore more likely to be pedestrians much of the time; and

WHEREAS
this tendency gives blind persons an active interest in issues involving pedestrians; and

WHEREAS
THE State OF Florida leads the nation in pedestrian fatalities, with four of our metropolitan areas appearing in the top five positions of this list indicating the highest number of pedestrian deaths; and

WHEREAS
in the past few years, it has become apparent that more and more drivers are disregarding traffic laws designed to keep pedestrians safe, including Florida Statute 316.1301, commonly known as the White Cane Law, that states that the driver of an automobile will yield the right of way to anyone utilizing a white cane or guide dog; and

WHEREAS
even the law enforcement officers of our state, cities and counties are unaware of such traffic laws, because they do not receive sufficient training on them: Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED
by The National Federation of the Blind of Florida,  in convention assembled, this third day of September, 2000, in the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that we call on the Florida Legislature to create a task force to study the pedestrian laws that are on the books so that the existing laws will be enforced and that new, stronger laws shall be written to protect our state's pedestrians; and   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we demand that all state, county and city law enforcement personnel be trained to uphold the white cane law as required by Florida statute.