The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation (NBCF) have partnered to educate drivers about Nevada’s White Cane Law and changes to the DMV Driver Handbook. This initiative aims to enhance road safety for blind or visually impaired pedestrians.
Kaylynn Diebold, a student at NBCF, has collaborated with the DMV and state legislature to improve road safety by advocating for better access to information on “flagging.” Flagging is a method used by some blind or visually impaired individuals to signal their intention to cross streets. The White Cane Law grants right-of-way to those using a white cane with a red shaft or a guide dog.
Drivers are urged to yield when they see flagging actions, ensuring pedestrians have safely crossed before proceeding. As part of Diebold’s advocacy, the DMV will expand educational materials on these topics and include a question in the driver knowledge test after the legislative session ends in June.
Nevada law mandates that blind pedestrians using service animals or canes have right-of-way over vehicles. Violations of this law result in civil infractions as per NRS 484A.703-705.
Demonstration videos and interviews with Diebold are available at dmv.nv.gov/media/whitecane.
The NBCF, founded in 2006 by Kevin and Toni Spilsbury, supports visually impaired children through various services. More information is available at nvblindchildren.org or by calling (702) 735-6223.
The Nevada DMV was established in 1957 and employs over 1,200 people, processing approximately 10 million transactions annually.
For media inquiries, contact Rachel Diehl at NBCF or Kevin Malone and Eli Rohl at Nevada DMV.
