Westchester resident George Demetralis can deal with his blindness.

He does so daily, walking more than a half-mile from his home to work. What he cannot deal with is getting hit by cars backing out of driveways.

Demetralis, who was knocked unconscious after being struck by a car April 4, 2008, narrowly escaped being struck again last week by a car backing out of a driveway on Windsor Avenue between Boeger Avenue and West Martindale Drive.

“I stepped back because my cane was under the car,” he said. “The woman stopped and said ‘go ahead.’ She didn’t say sorry or excuse me.”

Because of his blindness, he is not exactly sure of the address where the near accident occurred.

A resident of Mayfair Avenue since 1979, 67-year-old Demetralis took his case to the Westchester Village Board last year following the accident that could have cost him his life.

After last year’s accident, the village installed signs on Windsor Avenue where Demetralis walks to work alerting people to exercise caution for a blind person in the area.  There are also signs alerting drivers to deaf or other physically-challenged residents in various neighborhoods in the village.

Westchester Police Lt. Steven Stabosz said Demetralis has a right to be angry, and drivers need to keep their eye’s open.

“All those residents in these area where handicapped people reside should be aware by now of the sign,” Stabosz said. “Those handicapped people have been residing here for awhile. People should take the time to slow down.

Demetralis did not report the near miss last week, but said his patience is wearing thin.

“At that moment I didn’t know what to do,” he said. “I guess I was grateful I wasn’t on the ground again. But I value my independence. I just don’t think it’s fair. I’m quite angry at this point. One of these days somebody is really going to get hurt. If it’s a child, it could very well kill a child.”

Throughout the years, Demetralis has been hit six times by drivers who have not looked before leaving the driveway as he walks to Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church on Wolf Road, where he teaches religion classes as a pastoral assistant. He walks the same route on the sidewalk four times daily because he goes home for lunch. There have been some close calls as well.

Each time he has been hit or nearly hit, it has occurred on Windsor Street.

“They shouldn’t be in such a hurry,” Stabosz said. “The next time it could be their own kid.”