Mrs. Jeanne M. Hoss
|
October 22, 2002 |
I am writing this letter with the hope that the Transportation Barriers
Compliance Board will draft new guidelines which will allow people with back,
neck, and leg nerve damage to be able to drive on the public roadways without
having to detour or be trapped from driving to places because of the limitations
that speed humps, speed tables, raised crossings, and raised intersections have
and are causing to a large segment of society that experience pain and trauma
upon being confronted with these vertical deflection devices on the public
right-of-way.
Just in my city alone the outcry of the disabled such as I have been scoffed at
and we have been told that we are not in the majority and therefore have no
voice in preventing speed humps and vertical deflection devices all throughout
my city making me a true prisoner in the car. I have to drive miles out of the
way to just get home from the shopping center because of these devices. I can’t
drive to friend’s homes as their streets are riddled with more of these vertical
deflection devices. I can’t drive to my doctor’s office or dental office without
taking large detours and I fear that someday the roads I am currently using will
become barred to me by the majority of people who do not have back and neck
problems and do not see that I have any right to public right-of-way.
This is really becoming a serious problem especially as congested cities try and
deal with traffic management. The easiest solution for politicians is the quick
fix of speed humps for the outcries of the masses. If the urban communities had
to think of alternative methods because they were not permitted to restrict
those that have disabling nerve pain when driving over those humps/bumps than I
am sure other creative ideas would surface. At this time in history I see not
only my city becoming a maze of vertical deflection devices strewn all across
town but this is also true in every city with any traffic.
My condition is not all that uncommon. I was injured in an accident which tore
up my spinal disc. The damage has caused permanent stenosis, a very painful
compression of the spinal cord. Any jarring can and does make the pain worse and
it can also cause even further damage making walking extremely difficult. No one
knows when they will become the next back or neck injury statistic. Pain control
without medication is avoidable at times if one can avoid pain inducing
complications such as vertical deflection devices.
I strongly urge your board to be progressive and seek to help us who cannot get
our voice heard in our urban communities such as the one I live in. I have tried
and was literally mocked for even bringing up that these were an affront to the
disability act to make public access for all people. The politicians through up
their hands in disgust and said they were not bound by any laws.
I am only 47 years old and have many more productive years ahead of me providing
that I can be given the opportunities to use my vehicle for travel to places I
need to go without having to endure excruciating pain and further spinal damage.
Please seriously consider the adverse effects being inflicted on a large
population base by these vertical deflection devices such as speed humps, speed
tables, raised crossings, and raised intersections.
Thank you for your time and reading of this letter. If I can be of any further
assistance in your understanding please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Jeanne M. Hoss
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