The Sarasota Police Department is teaming up with Target Zero Florida, the National Coalition for Safer Roads, FDOT District 1, the Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving to host a National White Cane Awareness Day event on Friday, October 13, 2023, at Paul N. Thorpe, Jr. Park, Sarasota.

Friday, October 13, 2023

Paul N. Thorpe, Jr. Park

135 S Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236

9:00 – 11:00 am

The press conference will begin promptly at 9 a.m. and there will be a demonstration at 10 a.m.

This event occurs in the middle of National Pedestrian Safety Month, a month which raises awareness and promotes education to help keep pedestrians, our most vulnerable road users, safe. White Cane Awareness Day emphasizes and acknowledges the achievements of the blind and visually impaired, and on October 13th, we will come together to focus on ways to keep the blind and visually impaired safe as pedestrians on our roadways. 

Spokesperson, Cooper Vollmer, and his mother, Tina, will speak about Cooper’s experience navigating the City of Sarasota as someone who is visually impaired. You can learn more about his story here (https://alerttodayflorida.com/Education/DigitalMedia).  

In Florida, it’s the law that all drivers are required by law to come to a complete stop whenever a pedestrian is crossing, or attempting to cross, a public street or highway using a guide dog or carrying a raised or extended white cane or walking stick, to allow the pedestrian to cross safely. (F.S. 316.1301). White Cane Safety should be practiced every day, but today our goal is to remind the public that people who are visually impaired deserve the right to arrive at their destinations safely. 

• Always stop a minimum of five feet before the crosswalk or crossing location, or before the white bar prior to the crosswalk. Visually impaired pedestrians use audible clues, including the sounds of vehicles to determine your presence at the intersection.
• Never stop within the crosswalk. It’s not only illegal, but it also puts visually impaired pedestrians at risk.
• When turning right, always look around you and check the crosswalk on the side street for pedestrians before making the turn even when you have the green signal.
• Never honk your horn or give visually impaired pedestrians verbal cues.