Concerning Pedestrian Safety

WHEREAS,           

It is the right of all citizens to have the freedom to travel the streets and avenues of the State, but only a privilege for motorists to travel in powered vehicles; and

WHEREAS,           

The State of Florida has no law or statute to protect the right of the pedestrian; and  

WHEREAS,           

We, the blind of the Great State of Florida, walk through the sidewalks of the streets and avenues of our towns and cities, crossing at intersections,  proudly using our white canes, guide dogs and sighted guides; and

WHEREAS,           

Those streets and avenues are dangerous due to motorists who, without thought, put the lives of pedestrians at risk; and

WHEREAS,           

Those streets and avenues are dangerous as they were designed without adequate thought to the needs of pedestrians; and

WHEREAS,           

Each year there are several injuries and deaths of sighted and blind pedestrians that would have been avoided by the conscious consideration of pedestrian needs in the design of sidewalks and intersections and by the inclusion of legal regress to those so injured or killed; and

WHEREAS,           

The State of Florida does not require the development of new streets, avenues or their intersections to be constructed with the pedestrian in mind: Now, Therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED

by the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, this twenty-eighth day of May, 2007, in the City of Tampa, Florida, that the National Federation of the Blind of Florida encourages and urges the passage of a Pedestrian Safety Construction Bill, that will require that pedestrian needs be made foremost in the creation of sidewalks, streets, avenues and their intersections;  and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED

that we, the organized blind, encourage and urge the passage of a Bill For Pedestrian Safety, that will identify the rights of all pedestrians and detail legal consequence to the violation of such statutes.