along Walnut Creek

Web Posted: 04/05/2007 10:45 PM CDT

Alysha N. Hernández
Austin Bureau

AUSTIN — Blind driver Stanley McGowen has relied on two things to help him “see” where he drives — the eyesight of his longtime traveling companion and a optical scope that lets his friend help him steer.

Now, a piece of legislation has 59-year-old McGowen excited about the prospect of “seeing” his way better.

House Bill 308, which the House sent to the Senate on Thursday, makes driving easier for legally blind motorists like McGowen by allowing them to use laser sight devices, which are currently forbidden for driving in Texas.

“This is so important and I want to thank Rep. Edmund Kuempel for this,” McGowen said. “I’ve said that sometimes sighted people don’t have vision, but he’s a man of vision.”

Kuempel, R-Seguin, wrote the legislation that would let legally blind drivers use laser sights during regular daylight hours and when accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 13 years old and is not legally blind.

Kuempel, a licensed driver for more than 50 years, said the use of laser sights means easier navigation for blind drivers. The devices shoot a laser beam that highlights where the automobile will go.

“It’s just going to make a much cleaner commute,” Kuempel said. “And although we have a fair amount of legally blind people driving now, this will get more blind people back into their automobiles, and that’s what I’m particularly interested in.”

Currently, there are no requirements for legally blind drivers in Texas. All they need to drive is a valid Texas driving license. There is no requirement that they must be accompanied by anyone, either.

“As a practical element, someone would probably accompany them,” said Tom Harvey, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety. “It’s up to them and the people they’re with to use legal means and methods that fall under current regulations.”

McGowen, who lives near Weatherford, lost his eyesight in a plane crash 17 years ago. At first, he didn’t drive because he didn’t know it was possible. For years, he was unable to partake in a lifetime pleasure. Then he acquired an optical scope that lets his passenger to look over his shoulder to navigate the car.

“You can drive, but it’s difficult,” he said. “He tells me to accelerate, decelerate, turn left or right, and once I’m on target he tells me when to go.”

Chase Bearden, who does public outreach for the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, praised the bill. In March, Bearden testified before a House committee in support of the legislation.

“One of the reasons we liked it is because it’s a reasonable accommodation,” he said.

ahernandez@express-news.net

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA040607.04A.blind_hunt.317f1af.html