Q: If I’m driving and I see someone at an intersection with a white cane or a guide dog, is there anything I should do differently than when I encounter any other pedestrian?
A: I can show you the law, but I’m no expert on this topic, so I talked with someone who has experienced first-hand what it’s like to cross a street without vision. Jim Turri is with the Washington Council of the Blind, and is himself blind. All the good parts of this article are thanks to him. The first thing he told me is excellent advice for drivers approaching a pedestrian who is vision impaired or blind, and for any other pedestrians too: Slow down. Yes, the original question asked what you should do differently, so I’ll change it to slow down more.
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