In tonight’s syndicated episode [of The Big Bang Theory] Raj is dating a deaf girl who has a nice car.
I have zero experience in this field, so I have to ask: Are deaf people allowed to drive automobiles? :dubious: I mean, it’s not like riding a motorcycle, where you can’t hear much because of the sheer nature of the beast. It seems to me that operating a large motor vehicle when you can’t hear ambient auditory cues *at all *would be … dangerous for both the driver and everyone else on the road.
I’m all for Equal Opportunity. But my original questions stands: How do they respond to auditory cues? Aren’t they important in driving?*
*Granted, nowadays even drivers with normal hearing can’t get many cues when they crank up that THUMP-THUMP-THUMP noise on their stereo speakers… :mad:
I don’t have a factual answer for the OP, but I can’t imagine a state letting people drive who can’t hear horns and other audio cues at all. I am not deaf but I do have severe hearing problems. Although this is greatly helped by my hearing aids and it takes most people a while to figure out that I have hearing loss if I don’t mention it. I don’t remember being asked to demonstrate my hearing during drivers tests, although I did mention my hearing loss to the examiner.
I have no idea what they do in cases of total loss, and it may vary from state to state. Maybe someone can look up California’s driving laws and see what it says. But if you have at least some hearing, it’s not a problem getting a license or driving.
I know its about a tv show but since it’s related to driving laws which have a factual answer and the show itself only tengentally, should we move this to GQ?
Despite the fact that you were watching TV when the question occurred to you, this really isn’t a Cafe Society question. I’ve moved to GQ and renamed the thread to reflect the actual topic, and added the material in brackets in the first sentence of the OP to reflect information that had been in the original thread title.
In the UK, and I think across Europe, deafness is not considered a bar to driving.
You can also drive with only one eye -
"*You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after 1 September 2001 from 20 metres. (Number plate style changed in 2001)
You must also meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye.*
We also allow people with limbs missing and other handicaps to drive with adapted cars.
If you are totally blind, your guide dog has to be specially trained.
I have a deaf friend who drives. I personally don’t hear anything outside the car due to my music, but modern cars are pretty well soundproofed against most sounds anyway. If it’s not a fairly close siren, I have to roll the window down to hear it even with the music down low.
A deaf friend of the family died a long time ago because she didn’t hear a train coming, though.
Frankly, though, I don’t know why it would be necessary to hear in order to be able to drive safely—desirable, yes, but not necessary. I can’t remember the last time I heard a car horn. And an emergency vehicle with its siren going would also have its lights flashing, and I imagine a deaf person would be especially keen to check mirrors and be aware of her surroundings visually.
On Wednesday,** Mrs FtG** and I came across a fire engine and EMT leaving a fire station. We did no hear any sirens until they were right in front of us and then only faintly. Apprarently it was a big enough deal that we then had another fire truck from another station pass directly in front of us. Again, no audible siren until the truck was directly in front of us. And by that time we had seen it coming for a bit.
Windows up, stereo on low-mid volume.
If you have a decent car and any kind of music playing, hearing sirens is not always easy.
Deafness is in no way an official limit to driving. The only real constriction is taking a driving test with someone who can communicate suitably.
ISTM that deaf drivers would also be watching the actions of other drivers on the road, such as pulling over to the side of the road if there is an emergency vehicle in their lane.
Just to add my anecdote, I have a distant relative who has been profoundly deaf for most of his life. He does most of the driving for his immediate family, and has for many years.
The roads might actually be safer if all the drivers were deaf. I don’t drive a car but I’m on my bicycle a lot, and I had two collisions with other cyclist the past year, in both cases because they turned left as I was trying to pass them. My bike is pretty quiet and apparently if you don’t hear traffic it’s ok to cross the road without looking or signaling.
I pretty much always have my earbuds in on my bike, which some people think is insane. But there’s really nothing you’ll hear that you won’t see as long as you’re diligent about looking. (And I tend to listen to podcasts at a reasonable volume, not loud music, so I still hear more than someone in a car would.)
My sister and her husband both drive (both are Deaf and have been all their lives). I used to get freaked out when she would try to chat when drive and I will freely admit she isn’t the best driver, but that is not indicative of all Deaf people driving, my sister just isn’t a good driver.
My neighbor is deaf. He has no problem driving. I chide him when I see him returning home, with the windows down and the radio blasting that he cannot hear. It’s part of a game he plays with his wife, who can hear.
NBC News did a recent report on some new car models that are so well insulated that you cannot hear a fire truck with sirens going and the klaxon blaring directly behind you. It’s only the flashing lights that make you aware.
