I would like to remind everyone who operates a motor vehicle of their responsibility to yield the right of way to blind pedestrians.
Sec. 53-211 of the Connecticut General Statutes requires the operator of a motor vehicle to “reduce speed or stop if necessary” to grant the right of way to a person using a white cane, a white cane with red tip, or being guided by a guide dog.
Here in New Britain, we have several residents who are blind, and I have witnessed near misses when motor vehicle operators ignore them as they are attempting to cross the street. I have also stopped to yield to a blind person, only to have other motorists on the road pass me right in front of the blind person who is in the middle of the road at the time.
In addition to it being illegal to park on the sidewalk, it is also very hazardous to blind persons whenever you park your car on the sidewalk. Blind people are trained to memorize their surroundings and they become familiar with the locations of sidewalks. When you park your vehicle in the middle of the sidewalk, this is very hazardous to them as they may walk right into the vehicle—causing them serious injury. This is not only rude conduct on your part, but you may also be civilly liable for any injury they receive as a result of your violating the law by parking on the sidewalk and causing their injury.
As you can see from the photo, even some city employees need to learn to keep their vehicles off the sidewalk!
Sec. 53-211. Use of white canes by others than blind persons prohibited. Vehicles to reduce speed, grant right-of-way. (a) No person, except one wholly or partially blind, shall carry or use on any street or highway, or in any other public place, a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white tipped with red. (b) Any driver of a vehicle who approaches or comes into the immediate vicinity of a person wholly or partially blind, carrying a white cane or a white cane tipped with red, or a person being guided by a guide dog, shall reduce speed or stop if necessary to grant the right-of-way to such person. (c) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars.
Sec. 53-211 of the Connecticut General Statutes requires the operator of a motor vehicle to “reduce speed or stop if necessary” to grant the right of way to a person using a white cane, a white cane with red tip, or being guided by a guide dog.
Here in New Britain, we have several residents who are blind, and I have witnessed near misses when motor vehicle operators ignore them as they are attempting to cross the street. I have also stopped to yield to a blind person, only to have other motorists on the road pass me right in front of the blind person who is in the middle of the road at the time.
In addition to it being illegal to park on the sidewalk, it is also very hazardous to blind persons whenever you park your car on the sidewalk. Blind people are trained to memorize their surroundings and they become familiar with the locations of sidewalks. When you park your vehicle in the middle of the sidewalk, this is very hazardous to them as they may walk right into the vehicle—causing them serious injury. This is not only rude conduct on your part, but you may also be civilly liable for any injury they receive as a result of your violating the law by parking on the sidewalk and causing their injury.
As you can see from the photo, even some city employees need to learn to keep their vehicles off the sidewalk!
Sec. 53-211. Use of white canes by others than blind persons prohibited. Vehicles to reduce speed, grant right-of-way. (a) No person, except one wholly or partially blind, shall carry or use on any street or highway, or in any other public place, a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white tipped with red. (b) Any driver of a vehicle who approaches or comes into the immediate vicinity of a person wholly or partially blind, carrying a white cane or a white cane tipped with red, or a person being guided by a guide dog, shall reduce speed or stop if necessary to grant the right-of-way to such person. (c) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars.
What's the matter with the mayor? Can't he control his employees? This is disgraceful. Isn't this the same location where a blind person has already been injured by walking into another parked vehicle owned by the city?
ReplyDeleteIs there a restaurant nearby? If so, one of the city vehicles most likely belongs to Catanzaro.
ReplyDeleteapparently certain city officials believe they are above the law.
ReplyDeleteFrank,cant we do something about this problem?are you still involved with the NB housing authority?that is against city ordinance
ReplyDeleteCan the 13 Council Democrats use a white cane since they are blind to the real world and totally ignorant to life in generla?
ReplyDeleteThe Housing Authority Board Members better Investiagte as to why their employees are above the law.
ReplyDelete