[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 161 (Thursday, December 15, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S13682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 71--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT 
 STATES SHOULD REQUIRE CANDIDATES FOR DRIVER'S LICENSES TO DEMONSTRATE 
 AN ABILITY TO EXERCISE GREATLY INCREASED CAUTION WHEN DRIVING IN THE 
        PROXIMITY OF A POTENTIALLY VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUAL

  Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. Inouye, and Mr. Salazar) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation:

                            S. Con. Res. 71

       Whereas many people in the United States who are blind or 
     otherwise visually impaired have the ability to travel 
     throughout their communities without assistance;
       Whereas visually impaired individuals encounter hazards 
     that a pedestrian with average vision could easily avoid, 
     many of which involve crossing streets and roadways;
       Whereas the white cane and guide dog should be generally 
     recognized as aids to mobility for visually impaired 
     individuals;
       Whereas many States do not require candidates for driver's 
     licenses to associate the use of the white cane or guide dog 
     with potentially visually impaired individuals; and
       Whereas visually impaired individuals have had their white 
     canes and guide dogs run over by motor vehicles, have been 
     struck by the side view mirrors of motor vehicles, and have 
     suffered serious personal injury and death as the result of 
     being hit by motor vehicles: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that each State 
     should require any candidate for a driver's license in such 
     State to demonstrate, as a condition of obtaining a driver's 
     license, an ability to associate the use of the white cane 
     and guide dog with visually impaired individuals and to 
     exercise greatly increased caution when driving in proximity 
     to a potentially visually impaired individual.

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