One common misconception many people agree with is that deaf individuals cannot drive. Common arguments include, ‘They won’t be able to hear honking and emergency sirens. How will they communicate with law enforcement during traffic stops? Won’t they face additional challenges when navigating busy intersections or highways?’
I uncovered a lot about this topic while preparing for my distracted driving presentation at the Delaware School for the Deaf.
So, today, I will answer the question that most are curious about:
Can Deaf People Drive?
Deaf people and those with hearing impairments can drive and obtain driving licenses in all 50 US states. Although it’s legal for them to drive and receive a driving license, there’s still a lot of ignorance and prejudice surrounding this issue.
In fact, even some law enforcement personnel are not aware that it is legal for deaf people to drive, as I recently discovered via a police forum.
How Can Deaf People Drive?
Deaf people can drive safely despite not being able to hear sounds on the road. While people might worry about missing sirens or honking, studies have shown that deaf drivers are not at a higher risk of accidents than hearing individuals.
According to a study by the University of Sheffield, deaf drivers compensate for their lack of hearing by being more visually aware.
Moreover, new technology has enabled deaf individuals to understand auditory cues while driving. Two main technologies come to mind.
The first is known as an Audio-Visual Converter. It works by transforming sounds (such as honking) into visual signals. Usually, the Audio Visual Convertor comes as a panel that lights up to communicate the sound detected.
The second option is known as an Audio-Tactile Converter. This technology translates sounds into tactile signals, such as vibrations, to alert drivers about a particular sound.
More importantly, visual cues, such as flashing lights from emergency vehicles and signals from other drivers, play the biggest role in helping deaf drivers navigate the road.
In other instances, some drivers install panoramic mirrors to improve their ability to see other vehicles. These mirrors provide a wider field of view, allowing the driver to better perceive their environment and potential hazards on the road.
Most people can not imagine driving without the sense of hearing. However, in the grand scheme of things, the sense of hearing is only a small part of what makes driving safe. The most essential sense is sight. After all, how often do you drive while listening to your favorite podcast or music?
What About Communication with Law Enforcement?
When deaf drivers encounter traffic stops, they can easily interact with the police via notes and sign language. However, there have been past instances where police were too quick to act without assessing the situation with deaf drivers.
For example, Deaf Colorado man Brady Mistic’s encounter with law enforcement sheds light on the challenges deaf drivers face during traffic stops. Misunderstandings arising from his inability to hear police commands led to a wrongful arrest and tasing. This incident shows how important it is for police officers to be trained in communicating with deaf individuals to avoid unnecessary use of force.
Some states offer license plates that make it easy for law enforcement to identify deaf drivers to make the interaction easier.
For example, in Illinois, deaf or hard of hearing drivers have options to communicate their hearing status to law enforcement through:
License Plate Indicator— After passing the driving test, drivers can apply for a license plate with “HI” printed for “hearing impaired.”
J88 Notation on Driver’s License: This voluntary option adds a notification to the driver’s license. The notation alerts law enforcement about the driver’s hearing status before approaching the vehicle.
If stopped for a traffic check, drivers should remain calm and have a document or license showing their lack of hearing. However, law enforcement institutions have an even greater mandate of training their personnel to handle deaf drivers in a way that doesn’t endanger anyone’s safety.
Requirements for Obtaining a Driving Licence as a Deaf Person
Deaf individuals undergo the same process of obtaining a driving license as all hearing individuals. The only difference is that they typically need to inform the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) about their impairment. The DMV may then choose to place a restriction on their license. For instance, the DMV may require the driver to have full-view mirrors or use a hearing aid.
Does the same apply to commercial vehicles?
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) has been advocating for deaf individuals to obtain commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for a long time.
In 2013 the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) exempted the first 40 deaf and hard-of-hearing drivers. This was based on studies indicating that deaf drivers are not at higher risk of accidents and, of course, the persistent advocacy of NAD.
Today, deaf drivers seeking a CDL can be exempted from the DOT rules.
Why Inclusive Driving Policies Matter
Did you know that around 3.6% of people in the US consider themselves deaf or have serious difficulty hearing? That’s about 11 million individuals, according to the 2021 American Community Survey. If we include those with some degree of hearing loss, the number jumps to 48 million, per the Hearing Loss Association of America.
Like everyone else, these 11 million deaf individuals need to get to work, access services, shop for groceries, and enjoy life’s little pleasures. Therefore, recognizing the basic human need for mobility and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their hearing abilities, can participate fully in society is worth fighting for. At the end of the day, we all deserve the chance to go where we need to go and do what we need to do.
How to Drive Safely as a Deaf Person
Below are the recommendations for driving safely as a deaf person, from The National Council on Aging.
Plan for Fatigue
Fatigue is a common occurrence for deaf drivers. After all, the driver has to be constantly aware of all visual cues to ensure a safe journey. To protect themselves from fatigue-related accidents, drivers should schedule rest to recharge and combat the fatigue.
Maximize Visibility
- Adjust the vehicle’s mirrors by slightly angling the side mirrors outward to eliminate blind spots.
- Use backup cameras to offer a clear view of the back of vehicles while reversing. Fortunately, many modern cars have backup cameras as standard features. If not, drivers can retrofit an older vehicle with a backup camera to keep their surroundings visible.
- Drivers should stay vigilant and anticipate potential hazards on the road. They can do this by keeping a safe distance from other vehicles, obeying traffic laws, and using turn signals to communicate their intentions to other drivers.
- Ensure the vehicle is in good working condition by scheduling regular maintenance checks. Particularly, they should pay attention to warning signs such as unusual noises or changes in vehicle performance.
Distractions Can Impact All Drivers, Deaf Drivers Included
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, driver distraction contributes to over 58% of teen crashes. Moreover, data from Cambridge Mobile Telematics reveals a concerning trend. It found that the time drivers are distracted by their phones increased by approximately 23% from 2020 to 2022.
These statistics show just how much distracted driving poses a risk. Deaf drivers are not exempted from this reality. As such, drivers must exercise caution and avoid any type of distractions on the road.
One way to do it is to avoid using mobile phones or electronic devices while driving. Despite widespread acknowledgment of the dangers posed by cell phone distractions, with over 84% of drivers recognizing it as “unacceptable” to text or email while driving, there’s still a glaring gap between perception and behavior. In fact, 36% of these same individuals admit to having read or sent a text message or email while driving.
This happens because many people think, ‘It’s only for a few seconds! I can handle it.’ But accidents happen way too fast and unexpectedly for you to take that chance.
Drivers should also consider limiting conversations with passengers to ensure their attention remains 100% on safe driving.
What’s Next?
‘Can deaf people legally drive?’ is still a common question even though it has been 10 decades since deaf people were allowed to drive in all US states. For example, one of the students at the presentation told me that when he purchases gas and has to go into the gas station to pay, he is often met with questions about whether he is allowed to drive and whether it is safe for him to drive.
Unfortunately, this goes to show that a lot needs to be done to spread awareness and reduce the cases of prejudice and discrimination against deaf drivers.
Building this awareness calls for collective input from the government, law enforcement institutions, nonprofits like endDD, and, of course, the public.
Joel Feldman
Joel Feldman is the father of the late Casey Feldman and founder of the Casey Feldman Foundation and its sponsored project, EndDD.org. He has been a practicing attorney for 34 years and a shareholder in the law firm of Anapol Weiss in Philadelphia. He received a masters in counseling in 2013 and speaks throughout the U.S. and Canada to teens and adults, changing attitudes and behaviors through the science based, End Distracted Driving program. Joel also provides death notification training to law enforcement and the medical community. Joel can be reached at [email protected]
