# Deaf people driving \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 9, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907 "2014-10-09T22:51:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/1 "2014-10-09T22:51:15Z")
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. Yes? No? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/2 "2014-10-09T23:11:44Z")
Yes, deaf people can and do drive. [Deaf Lyft drivers](http://www.citylab.com/work/2014/09/lyft-is-quietly-hiring-a-lot-of-deaf-drivers/380672/) [Deaf commercial truck drivers](http://nad.org/news/2013/2/dot-recognizes-deaf-and-hard-hearing-truck-drivers) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/3 "2014-10-10T21:24:35Z")
I once worked at a place near a deaf school. Saw them driving all the time. How did I know? They would sign with their passengers.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/4 "2014-10-10T22:04:35Z")
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: ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2014, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/5 "2014-10-10T22:49:43Z")
Instead of hearing a horn, they just look for hand signals… ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/6 "2014-10-12T15:33:19Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/7 "2014-10-12T16:15:42Z")
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. **twickster** , Cafe Society moderator ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/8 "2014-10-12T16:17:18Z")
Yes, deaf people can drive. They can “hear” ambient sounds outside the car as well as a person with the radio blaring or wearing loud earbuds… ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/9 "2014-10-12T16:30:14Z")
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. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/10 "2014-10-12T17:45:19Z")
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. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/11 "2014-10-12T17:51:07Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Yes, deaf people can drive. They can “hear” ambient sounds outside the car as well as a person with the radio blaring or wearing loud earbuds… [In some jurisdictions, it’s illegal to drive wearing earbuds.](http://blogs.findlaw.com/law_and_life/2012/06/illegal-to-drive-with-headphones.html) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/12 "2014-10-12T17:58:13Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > They can “hear” ambient sounds outside the car as well as a person with the radio blaring or wearing loud earbuds… Cite? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/13 "2014-10-12T19:50:45Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/14 "2014-10-12T20:05:29Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > [In some jurisdictions, it’s illegal to drive wearing earbuds.](http://blogs.findlaw.com/law_and_life/2012/06/illegal-to-drive-with-headphones.html) > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/15 "2014-10-12T20:08:52Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > > [@jtur88](#): > > > > They can “hear” ambient sounds outside the car as well as a person with the radio blaring or wearing loud earbuds… > > Cite? What part of “none of those people can hear anything at all while driving” are you wanting a cite for? Seems trivially obvious to me. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/16 "2014-10-12T20:12:51Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![iljitsch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/77aa72/32.png) [@iljitsch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iljitsch)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/17 "2014-10-12T20:29:49Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/18 "2014-10-12T20:33:13Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/19 "2014-10-12T20:43:37Z")
> [@Poysyn](#): > > 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. You mean she took her hands off the wheel and chatted in ASL? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907/20 "2014-10-12T20:48:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Q: Are deaf people allowed to get drivers licenses? If so, are there any additional restrictions or classes? > A: _The answer comes from State Department of Licensing spokesman Tony Sermonti:_ > The quick answer is yes, folks that are deaf or hearing impaired can get a driver license. There are no special requirements or classes that they’re required to take. Extra time is set aside for the driving test, so examiners can use flash cards or other methods of communicating. > Depending on the attention the applicant gives during the drive test, we may impose a restriction on their driver license requiring outside mirrors on both sides of the vehicle and a rear view mirror to ensure they can see emergency vehicles approaching from behind. > In terms of a commercial driver license, individuals who are deaf do not meet federal medical standards. If a deaf individual is interested in obtaining a commercial driver license, they would need to apply for a waiver through our agency. We are not aware of anyone who has applied for a waiver during the last five years. [Seattle PI](http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/2010/03/08/are-deaf-people-allowed-to-drive/) 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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-driving-edited-title/700907.md?page=2)