Special Assignment

Speedbusters: A Blind Man's Plea

Speedbusters: A Blind Man's Plea

Jay Olstad

GREENFIELD - Walk a few feet in Louis Nowicki's shoes and you may see things differently when crossing the road.

"If I would have taken two steps to my right, I likely wouldn't be here even talking today," said Louis Nowicki.

For most everyone on Grange Avenue in Greenfield, it's dangerous, but when you're legally blind...

"It could be potentially serious and deadly," said Sgt. Mike Brunner with Greenfield Police.

That doesn't stop Louis from crossing the street to get his mail. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop the drivers either.

Under Wisconsin law, drivers are supposed to stop when they see a blind person with a white cane.

So it's not just the mail Louis is taking in his hands, it's his life.

While some drivers may not know the White Cane Law, we thought they may know the 25-mile hour speed limit.

"Why do people not read the sign," said Nowicki.

"38, 39," yelled out TODAY'S TMJ4'S Jay Olstad as he clocked speeders.

Not so much. So who better to educate them than Greenfield Police?

"42," radioed a police officer. “Speeding a little bit,” he told the driver.

"Oh, I'm sorry," replied the driver, who said he was late for a weekend in Wisconsin Dells.

Police say it only takes a few minutes to change someone's life.

"He has the cane and you have to take a look for that kind of thing," said Sgt. Brunner.

Louis understands officers can not patrol this stretch 24/7; he's just hoping drivers get the message and slow down.

"Someone has to make a point and make an issue of this," said Nowicki.

That person is Louis Nowicki.

Even though he can't see, his vision for what he wants is clear: safe driving.

Louis tells us because of this report, the signage was improved and the U.S. Post Office will finally move his mailbox to his side of the road.

If you would like Speedbusters to come to your neighborhood, email Jay at speedbusters@todaystmj4.com.
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