I’d like to begin this post by addressing the titular misconception and giving a clear answer—yes, Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HoH) are absolutely able to drive. All across the world, D/HoH individuals can drive both legally and safely, given that driving is a skill that primarily involves visual awareness of surroundings.
In Canada, the right to drive is granted and licenced on the basis of driving skills as assessed by a road test, not by the ability to hear. Safety is assessed just the same as it is with hearing individuals, and the Insurance Bureau of Canada maintains that one’s level of hearing has no influence on insurance rates. While there is a vision test that everyone must pass, there is no equivalent hearing test that is required to obtain a licence. Ontario’s DriveTest centres provide an option to have interpreters present during both written and road tests, increasing accessibility to ensure everyone has an equitable chance to earn a driver’s licence (1).
Research has shown that there is no difference in the rate of accidents between D/HoH drivers and hearing drivers (2), so the misconception that it is unsafe for Deaf individuals to drive is blatantly false. Sadly, many hearing individuals still often express doubts on D/HoH individuals’ ability to drive based on their preconceived notions. For example, hearing individuals may worry that D/HoH people may not notice an emergency vehicle’s sirens and move out of the way—however, they also don’t consider that the sirens are so loud that they can be felt, and that bright flashing lights on the vehicle are designed so that they’re noticed by everyone!
(Image sourced from MedPB, LLC) (3)
Driving provides the freedom of movement and is essential to gain equitable access to resources, including employment, educational, health, and social opportunities (4). Many argue that no audio input only increases road awareness in other modalities, specifically in vision and attention (5). In addition, there are also less distractions present to take an individual’s attention away from a road, such as a ringing phone or noise made by passengers or the radio, increasing road safety even further.
Additionally, assistive technologies exist that can help D/HoH drivers increase their vigilance on the road. For example, clip-on mirrors increase the visual field around a car, creating a panoramic view for the driver that helps increase awareness of their surroundings. Although it is not a necessity, some Hard of Hearing individuals may prefer using a hearing aid. For others, the irrelevant background noise may actually be too distracting and hinder their concentration (6). Sensors installed in a car can give tactile or visual cues when there is an auditory stimulus on the road, such as a honk from another car or an approaching emergency vehicle siren. For example, car manufacturer Hyundai has developed this technology. This short but heartfelt video, shown below, highlights these technologies by telling the story of Seoul's first deaf taxi driver, Lee Dai-ho:
The misconception that D/HoH individuals cannot safely drive is an incredibly damaging stereotype that has wide-reaching effects, as it can perpetuate audist and ableist prejudice and discrimination. The video about Lee Dai-ho gives a very concrete example of the importance of erasing the stigma that many hearing people sadly hold—notice how the first few seconds showed the hearing individuals’ unfounded distrust of Lee Dai-ho based on their preconceived notions. However, when people took the time to learn and gain understanding of the positive realities of driving with hearing loss, the interactions with the driver became significantly more positive, trusting, and overall beneficial for everyone involved.
Because of these assumptions about what D/HoH people can’t – or shouldn’t – do, the question of “Can Deaf people drive?” still stumps many people. However, it’s important to remember that D/HoH individuals can drive just as well as hearing individuals. It is crucial to have this conversation to eliminate these misconceptions and create a more welcoming space for all, both on the road and off of it!
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