The Biology of Squirrels.

Safe
driving practices have an emphasized importance to the blind and
visually impaired. As a child, I was diagnosed with septo-optic
dysplasia, a condition which effects my vision in a manner that has
rendered me forever unable to drive. This affects me in every aspect
of my life. To travel, I must walk on busy streets and take public
transportation, which is all well and good for sighted individuals,
but significantly more difficult for someone who must rely on the
patterns of traffic to determine when to cross a street.

When
the rest of my graduating class was learning to drive, I was enrolled
in Orientation and Mobility- a one on one instructional course which
educates the visually impaired on safe pedestrian mannerisms. The
first lesson I ever learned was on a small, yet busy suburban street,
with no streetlights. As a car sped forward, I started to move back
to the sidewalk, even though I was halfway across the street already.

Later,
my instructor made a point to teach me of the biology of squirrels.
Creatures that can only move forward with their sights on the goal
and retreating when an obstacle is near. It is much wiser to rush
ahead than return to the origin location, because drivers will never
expect you to turn around. He said to me:

“Don’t
be a squirrel.”

I
will never be without the uneasiness that comes with this
circumstance, as I will never be able to predict the actions of a
driver. Speeding, even in a suburban street, poses a danger to those
who must rely on limited vision, or on sound alone. Drivers can help
to minimize the fear of such crossings by driving at speed limit, and
heeding pedestrians. There is much more to my safety in travel than
only the actions of drivers. It should be known that communication
with a pedestrian using a white cane should not occur if an
individual is driving, as the ques we use to travel are based off of
traffic patterns, and a driver stopping to communicate may provide
misinformation, or alter traffic.

Another
lesson, on the bustling streets of the inner city, I was hassled by a
passing driver who wanted me to cross so that he wouldn’t have to
worry about the disabled pedestrian. It was only after I had stepped
back from the curb, flagged on the driver, and turned my back (the
only procedure that would have them drive on), that I discovered that
the intersection was not safe to pass at that time, due to the
traffic pattern currently in cycle.

“Being
a squirrel will kill you.”

Drivers
education is an important part of the safety of travelers. A
prospective driver should follow the rules of vehicle operation with
diligence. Many individuals will go about their life unaffected by
street laws. Moving throughout their days, visiting their beloved
people and places, relying on their cars to get them there. These
individuals are in truth relying their own knowledge of tools to
achieve a goal. To reduce the number of vehicle-caused deaths, people
must utilize global communications to discuss issues. In orientation
and mobility, students are taught to contact traffic engineers, and
the terminology related to street design. Society could benefit from
a more general use of these skills. If drivers, pedestrians, and
engineers are able to discuss issues that are suspected of causing
accidents, more work may be done to save lives.

Lack
of communication between disabled people and drives can be applied on
a larger scale. Communication is a key method of problem solving, yet
overbearing assistance, or a communication imbalance may lead to the
altering of a crucial pattern and force some people to retreat.

Squirrels
can’t save lives.

People
Can