deaf drivers

[SerottaK]

what do you guys do when you pull over a deaf driver? do they just get the ticket without giving you a sob story, or do you have to call a translator. what if its a more serious issue and you need the driver to get out of the car?

[Junkie]

A notepad works for communicating.

[JPM]

A notepad works for communicating.


And a pen helps also. :thumbup

[CnDnMax]

http://www.jewsinalabama.com/uploaded_images/doh_l-761608.gif

[GhostRider510]

deaf people are allowed to drive?

[acerunner]

deaf people are allowed to drive?

my thoughts exactly. isnt that a danger on the road?

[AceT100]

my thoughts exactly. isnt that a danger on the road?

I'd have thought it was no worse than the assholes in their ricers with stereo's cranked up to "11" or morons sipping their 12bucks while on the phone & playing with their GPS

[afm199]

my thoughts exactly. isnt that a danger on the road?

No, people drinking lattes, reading the paper and talking on their cellphone are a menace. Deaf people paying attention are safe drivers. I'd ten times rather be surrounded by them than half the drivers out there.

[RcrBoy]

No, people drinking lattes, reading the paper and talking on their cellphone are a menace. Deaf people paying attention are safe drivers. I'd ten times rather be surrounded by them than half the drivers out there.

Thanks for the support! :thumbup




:loco Mark :loco

[reaLst]

I never understood then..

If it is legal for a deaf person to drive, why is it illegal for someone to drive with ear\headphones on?

[Outta Control]

I never understood then..

If it is legal for a deaf person to drive, why is it illegal for someone to drive with ear\headphones on?

That's a dumb question. One has no choice but to deal with it while the other has the ability but does it on purpose.


+1 to AceT100 and AFM199...
No, people drinking lattes, reading the paper and talking on their cellphone are a menace. Deaf people paying attention are safe drivers. I'd ten times rather be surrounded by them than half the drivers out there

I would add that since they loss one part of their senses then their ability to uses their sight would be heightened to accommodate the loss.

[USARMworker]

:laughing A long time ago, I ended up as a passenger in a car being driven by a deaf guy getting directions from his passenger via SIGN LANGUAGE while the passenger was getting directions from the pot dealer who was sitting next to me in the back seat. I had eaten some acid. :loco It was one of the strangest car rides I ever got. And eerily quiet.

..

[rritterson]

I never understood then..

If it is legal for a deaf person to drive, why is it illegal for someone to drive with ear\headphones on?

You can't drive with headphones on because it distracts you. Driving deaf is like driving in complete silence.

[slowpoke]

If deaf people can drive, then so should blind people:x:cool

[JPM]

If deaf people can drive, then so should blind people:x:cool

I think they do from how I've seen some people drive! :teeth

[T-1 Thunder]

That's a dumb question. One has no choice but to deal with it while the other has the ability but does it on purpose.


It's not a dumb question. It's valid. By your explanation of "why", the logic would flow that a blind person should be able to drive as well? The law is made to protect society, and if a person is disabled to a certain degree - it's not dumb to wonder if they could cause harm to innocents on the road.

:laughing A long time ago, I ended up as a passenger in a car being driven by a deaf guy getting directions from his passenger via SIGN LANGUAGE while the passenger was getting directions from the pot dealer who was sitting next to me in the back seat. I had eaten some acid. :loco It was one of the strangest car rides I ever got. And eerily quiet.

..

Go acid!:thumbup

You can't drive with headphones on because it distracts you. Driving deaf is like driving in complete silence.

Either way, you won't hear the ambulance on your tail, or the cops trying to divert traffic or get your attention. Sirens are important things in our society, and even someone's car horn going off could alert you to a child on a bike heading your way while you're looking in the other direction.

[afm199]

The law is made to protect society, not to create categories that prevent people from accessing it due to minor disability. People drive with Ipods, 104 decibel boom boxes, while drinking lattes and texting, etc etc. If a deaf person can show ( and they do) the ability to safely navigate and be aware of hazards (remember flashing lights) they have every right to drive.

[OldFatGuy]

If a deaf person can show ( and they do) the ability to safely navigate and be aware of hazards (remember flashing lights) they have every right to drive.

Totally agreed. But what if somebody can demonstrate those same abilities while listening to music with earphones?

[RcrBoy]

Totally agreed. But what if somebody can demonstrate those same abilities while listening to music with earphones?


Well that opens up a whole can of worms with, "But officer, I know I drive better while high on my perscription weed!" :smoking

With the disabled it's all about the ADA.......................... :teeth


:loco Mark :loco

[}Dragon{]

what do you guys do when you pull over a deaf driver? do they just get the ticket without giving you a sob story, or do you have to call a translator. what if its a more serious issue and you need the driver to get out of the car?


Kenny-

A buddy of mine who's a LEO got into a chase with a guy who failed to yield. After about 5 miles the driver pulls to the right, stops, and is taken out at gun point.

The driver, seeing the gun, screams in a deaf person's best voice: SORRY! SORRY! I'M DEAF!!!

The Officer didn't have a heart to give him a ticket when they both spoke in ASL.:)

[Outta Control]

It's not a dumb question. It's valid. By your explanation of "why", the logic would flow that a blind person should be able to drive as well? The law is made to protect society, and if a person is disabled to a certain degree - it's not dumb to wonder if they could cause harm to innocents on the road.

Listen to your defense, "...The law is made to protect society, and if a person is disabled to a certain degree - it's not dumb to wonder if they could cause harm to innocents on the road." you can not compare a purely deaf person to an space cadet that intentionally disabled his ability to hear. Or one can act like those people that drop sign language card that they are deaf on your table asking for donations and drop one to the LEO. :D There is a BIG difference. But to play devil's advocate more and more modern cars have better noise reduction material in them so the possibility one can't hear traffic is plausible.

[RolnCode3]

Kenny-

A buddy of mine who's a LEO got into a chase with a guy who failed to yield. After about 5 miles the driver pulls to the right, stops, and is taken out at gun point.

The driver, seeing the gun, screams in a deaf person's best voice: SORRY! SORRY! I'M DEAF!!!

The Officer didn't have a heart to give him a ticket when they both spoke in ASL.:)
I've been there before. It wasn't a vehicle stop, though. Don't want to share my story, but it's easy to get caught in this situation. Good to hear it worked out OK.

[RolnCode3]

This is a strange thread. :wtf

[}Dragon{]

This is a strange thread. :wtf


:mm4l


:newbie

[T-1 Thunder]

Listen to your defense,


But to play devil's advocate more and more modern cars have better noise reduction material in them so the possibility one can't hear traffic is plausible.

First of all, I'm not defending anything other than the curiousity to wonder about the comparison from the perspective of why the law is set.

And that's a great point about the cars. They have commercials where they roll up the window and you can't hear anything. :wow Seems like that should be illegal if listening to headphones is since it distances the driver from the world around them. I don't know.:dunno

[T-1 Thunder]

Should I leave out the mexican that left me laying unconcious in the fast lane on the 405?
Driving is a privelage, not a right, too bad leo's are so selective with enforcement(cant have a lawsuit because you pulled over an illegal), oops, wouldnt want to take the time to arrest an illegal instead of writing at ticket on a legal citizen that will actually pay the fine, I get it.

:wtf

Sounds like another thread entirely. I didn't know that illegals were let off the hook because "they won't pay". :wow

[gnstalodz]

3 of my roommates are deaf... he also used to drive a bike. There VERY good drivers. far better than me haha

[T-1 Thunder]

3 of my roommates are deaf... he also used to drive a bike. There VERY good drivers. far better than me haha

I don't think anyone is contesting the fact that many deaf drivers are actually very good drivers. That's not the focus. It's what would happen if they fail to react to a horn, alarm, or siren that's at stake.

:nerd

[gnstalodz]

I don't think anyone is contesting the fact that many deaf drivers are actually very good drivers. That's not the focus. It's what would happen if they fail to react to a horn, alarm, or siren that's at stake.

:nerd

they pull over just fine. i actually had one of my roommates get out of a 5K ticket and it get bumped down to 50$ by the judge... it maybe wasnt 5K but something high like that. And all sirens have lights, they A LOT more observant with things like that. So no, there is no danger imo

[RolnCode3]

they pull over just fine. i actually had one of my roommates get out of a 5K ticket and it get bumped down to 50$ by the judge... it maybe wasnt 5K but something high like that. And all sirens have lights, they A LOT more observant with things like that. So no, there is no danger imo
I was thinking the same thing about sirens/lights going together. Sirens (IMO) typically just perk people's attention to the fact an emergency vehicle is in the area. The lights are how you identify which vehicle is requesting the right-of-way.

[T-1 Thunder]

What about when a woman yells "STOP - you're about to back over my child!" and you can't hear her?

[afm199]

What about when a woman yells "STOP - you're about to back over my child!" and you can't hear her?

Uhh, you mean in the SUV with the boom box at 103 db and the inhabitants yelling at each other? Or the woman yelling in Spanish and you don't know what she is saying but she sounds crazy so you want get our of there? Or the Motor home that is so long you can not hear from one end to the other?

[RolnCode3]

What about when a woman yells "STOP - you're about to back over my child!" and you can't hear her?
What about it?

They just might run the child over. Shit happens. But maybe they should have used their mirrors?

You can always come up with a situation which plays to someone's weakness. What about colorblindness? What about amputees?

A deaf person has gone to DMV and passed the EXACT SAME TEST that everyone else did. Last I checked there is NO hearing test associated with obtaining a license.

Not looking to start a pissing match - I just fundamentally disagree with the contention that a deaf person is less able to safely operate a motor vehicle than a person who is not disabled.

[Outta Control]

Uhh, you mean in the SUV with the boom box at 103 db and the inhabitants yelling at each other? Or the woman yelling in Spanish and you don't know what she is saying but she sounds crazy so you want get our of there? Or the Motor home that is so long you can not hear from one end to the other?

:laughing

[T-1 Thunder]

What about colorblindness?

Not looking to start a pissing match - I just fundamentally disagree with the contention that a deaf person is less able to safely operate a motor vehicle than a person who is not disabled.

Good points, and I agree also that a deaf person(and one listening to the radio or headphones) is alright on the road if they pay attention. My whole role in this thread is not "anti-that". I'm simply trying to distinguish how the law finds the difference and why it is the way it is.

Now colorblindness can be a problem if you see RED and GREEN as equal.:nerd

[Psychochik]

If youre not smart enough to know that it goes red yellow green then you shouldnt be on the road in the first place. :x

There are plenty of deaf and colorblind people on the road that most of us dont even know about and are probably better drivers than non deaf or color blind. Their ability to pay attention is much greater than you or I due to their needing to do so. :thumbup

[T-1 Thunder]

If youre not smart enough to know that it goes red yellow green then you shouldnt be on the road in the first place. :x

There are plenty of deaf and colorblind people on the road that most of us dont even know about and are probably better drivers than non deaf or color blind. Their ability to pay attention is much greater than you or I due to their needing to do so. :thumbup

I thought I heard somewhere that colorblindness can keep a person from getting a driver's license. But it makes sense, what you say - about the lights being in different spots.:thumbup

[SerottaK]

This is a strange thread. :wtf
yeah, I have to write a paper for my asl class and I knew if I posted on BARF I would get both the answers from leo's and from those with the victim mantality. I know that most deaf or HH people don't consider themselves disabled, but wouldn't some form of placard make a traffic stop less tense. I can see how a notepad would work in most situations but someone not responding to verbal commands as the officer approaches the car could heat things up in a hurry.

[SerottaK]

Kenny-

A buddy of mine who's a LEO got into a chase with a guy who failed to yield. After about 5 miles the driver pulls to the right, stops, and is taken out at gun point.

The driver, seeing the gun, screams in a deaf person's best voice: SORRY! SORRY! I'M DEAF!!!

The Officer didn't have a heart to give him a ticket when they both spoke in ASL.:)

Ken, when are you gonna ride Berryessa again?

[dooley]

I've been deaf for 26 of my 28 years, and have been driving since 15. Never been in an accident and was pulled over once (for speeding) -- and I knew I was being pulled over because I have a habit of keeping an eye on my rearview mirror. For some reason the cop just told me to "do him a favor" and slow down - no ticket - he knew I couldn't hear.

Anyway, just because we cannot hear does not translate into us being unsafe drivers. I think it really has more to do with the type of person you are irrespective of your ability to hear. If you're a responsible person and understand your responsibility to drive safely -- through your own means and also by taking into account other driver's actions -- then you likely are as safe a driver as you will get. I pay attention to who's behind me, if there's some idiot driving nearby, by holding up a second or two after a light goes green, by checking my blind spot, and being more aware around hospitals where emergency vehicles are more common.

In some cases, it would help to hear (I've used my horn before in certain stupid situations where the car in front of me starts backing up without the driver checking who's behind him), but while I can only speak for myself, I've gone through life long enough without hearing to "know" not to put myself in a situation where I would need to be warned audibly.

bottom line - a responsible person will drive responsibly.

[RolnCode3]

If youre not smart enough to know that it goes red yellow green then you shouldnt be on the road in the first place. :x

There are plenty of deaf and colorblind people on the road that most of us dont even know about and are probably better drivers than non deaf or color blind. Their ability to pay attention is much greater than you or I due to their needing to do so. :thumbup
See, that's what I thought when I didn't know anything about colorblindness either.

But we're getting ready to hire someone who's partially colorblind, so we started reading the POST hiring requirements. Enlightening. And this is accessible publicly, so this is not some secret document:
http://www.post.ca.gov/selection/pdf/Vision.pdf

There are different classifications of colorblindness. This is what I found interesting:

Beyond color identification, color vision is also important in the recognition of
signal illumination. Questionnaire results document that many CVD persons
have difficulty distinguishing the color of traffic signal lights, confuse traffic
lights with street lights, and have trouble seeing brake lights on cars (Table XI-
15; Steward & Cole, 1989). Although it has not been shown that CVD drivers
Revised 7/94 XI - 48
have higher total accident rates (Verriest, et al., 1980; Norman, 1980), CVD
drivers appear to have relatively more accidents on road crossings controlled by
traffic lights, more rear-end collisions caused by overlooking red rear, stop or
warning lights, and more accidents in wet or slippery conditions (Verriest, et
al., 1980).

The point being: Unless you suffer from the ailment, or do a little research, there's no way to understand the issue.
I am not trying to steer the thread on a new tangent. Just to illustrate a point.

[saizai]

FWIW - I lived in a house of Deaf* people while I was in DC for the summer. I'm mostly-fluent in ASL. Drove a few times with one of 'em, have driven with other deafies too.

And yes, I was pretty freaked out the first time he drove and he was continuing chatting with me the whole time (in ASL).

But it's not as bad you might think.

First, customarily the passengers participate in watching the road and direct the driver's attention to anything they need to notice. Doesn't happen so much with non deaf people.

Second, they still do scan and look around and all that, and are arguably better at visual comprehension due to it being their language facility as well - though I'd like to see data on that.

Third, the driver tends to use half-ASL - the left hand mostly stays on the wheel. This is a pretty common variant - e.g. if one of your hands are full or the like. It's sorta like talking with your mouth full; still pretty easily understandable, just adapted.

And as mentioned - it's a lot better than many drivers on the road. I'd rather take my chances with a deafie than ye stereotypical soccer mom. *shrug*


* capital D = cultural affiliation, small d = lack of hearing

[afm199]

The interesting thing about deaf (and blind) people is the loss of a sensory input creates a situation that increase the information processed by the remaining senses. Blind people will often have a highly developed spatial sense and be able to process sound much better than sighted people. They need those inputs to function. Watch a blind person in a home they have lived in (with no others living there to move stuff) and you will often see someone who looks sighted. They will will walk and pick up things with a great degree of confidence.

Similarly, deaf folks quickly learn to use their vision for cues about the world around them. Even sighted folks, like myself, who are starting to lose their hearing, quickly learn to watch someone'e lips when they have a conversation and unconsciously learn to read some cues from the lips.

I'll take my chances with deaf folks without a second thought. If we are going to get impaired folks off the road, let's start with those who are drunk, have no license or insurance, and are incapable of driving safely. That's about 25% of the fuckers out there.

[Outta Control]

thanks ernie i stated that earlier. :p

[saizai]

Blind people will often have a highly developed spatial sense and be able to process sound much better than sighted people. They need those inputs to function. Watch a blind person in a home they have lived in (with no others living there to move stuff) and you will often see someone who looks sighted. They will will walk and pick up things with a great degree of confidence.

Random interesting science of the day:

Some forms of blindness (where the blindness is due to impaired functioning of one of the visual processing pathways in the brain) allow for "blindsight". So e.g. you hold up a pencil in front of them - they will swear to you that they have no clue what's there. You ask them to grab it, and they'll say basically "wtf dude didn't you hear me say I'm blind?" But then if you get 'em to try anyway... they go right for it, not just flailing about randomly. Turns out they know *where* things are (subconsciously) but not *what* they are.

Fairly uncommon phenomenon (most people are blind 'cause of an eye problem, which doesn't have this sort of two-way split), but it's neat.

Another tidbit: blind people will navigate a lot by the feel of wind/heat also. Changes near doors, windows, places where people move, walls, etc. Subtle but even if you're sighted you can get used to noticing it.

:nerd:p

[Psychochik]

See, that's what I thought when I didn't know anything about colorblindness either.

But we're getting ready to hire someone who's partially colorblind, so we started reading the POST hiring requirements. Enlightening. And this is accessible publicly, so this is not some secret document:
http://www.post.ca.gov/selection/pdf/Vision.pdf

There are different classifications of colorblindness. This is what I found interesting:

Beyond color identification, color vision is also important in the recognition of
signal illumination. Questionnaire results document that many CVD persons
have difficulty distinguishing the color of traffic signal lights, confuse traffic
lights with street lights, and have trouble seeing brake lights on cars (Table XI-
15; Steward & Cole, 1989). Although it has not been shown that CVD drivers
Revised 7/94 XI - 48
have higher total accident rates (Verriest, et al., 1980; Norman, 1980), CVD
drivers appear to have relatively more accidents on road crossings controlled by
traffic lights, more rear-end collisions caused by overlooking red rear, stop or
warning lights, and more accidents in wet or slippery conditions (Verriest, et
al., 1980).

The point being: Unless you suffer from the ailment, or do a little research, there's no way to understand the issue.
I am not trying to steer the thread on a new tangent. Just to illustrate a point.

Hmmm, good bit of info there. I have limited knowledge on color blindness. I had a friend in college that is color blind and I guess he had issues with greens, reds and blues, but was a very good driver. I never once felt at risk with him behind the wheel. He was very aware of his surroundings and kept at a safe distance and watched for light placement.

Looks like not everyone does pay as much attention as one would believe.

[}Dragon{]

Now colorblindness can be a problem if you see RED and GREEN as equal.:nerd

Why do you think traffic lights are standardized R/Y/G?

[Noid]

This thread is great. So with that said. I had a friend who was deaf. He was the only person I knew that got out playing the stereo loud. He would feel the beat vs. listening to it.

[saizai]

This thread is great. So with that said. I had a friend who was deaf. He was the only person I knew that got out playing the stereo loud. He would feel the beat vs. listening to it.

Look up "deaf rave" on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shy2Q7OZsxQ). ;)

[1RUN]

My uncle is deaf (since birth). He's hyper aware visually, surpassing a non-deaf person, as he's been compensating for a missing sense his entire life. I would consider him one of the safest drivers I've ever met. So, to be fair, and to look at the whole picture, you really need to consider more than a lack of hearing with regard to a deaf person's sensory capabilities.

[Variable]

:laughing A long time ago, I ended up as a passenger in a car being driven by a deaf guy getting directions from his passenger via SIGN LANGUAGE while the passenger was getting directions from the pot dealer who was sitting next to me in the back seat. I had eaten some acid. :loco It was one of the strangest car rides I ever got. And eerily quiet.

..


:wtf
:laughing

...trying to imagine what it would be like on acid watching that whole situation go down...must've been surreal

[motorman4life]

You can't drive with headphones on because it distracts you. Driving deaf is like driving in complete silence.
A deaf person learns to overcome their handicap and compensate for it, out of necessity. They may drive more alert and check their mirrors more often than an "average" driver. It is not that they cannot be safe drivers, it is just that they need to compensate for the loss of sound input.

A person with headphones on has a choice and has no need to develop the survival skills a deaf person would naturally hone out of necessity.

As for communication. Charades, notepad and pen, basic instinctive sign language.. whatever it takes. I took an American Sign class years ago, but I have found writting notes is most effective in real-world situations.

[scalvert]

A deaf person learns to overcome their handicap and compensate for it, out of necessity. They may drive more alert and check their mirrors more often than an "average" driver. It is not that they cannot be safe drivers, it is just that they need to compensate for the loss of sound input.

Interesting, this is the same conclusion I came to when pondering the same topic, but I wasn't sure I wasn't out in the weeds with my logic.

[RcrBoy]

Think of the benefits of Deafness for racing! Works great for me with no distractions. Leave hearing aid in the tool box and just pin it! :teeth.

Last time I crashed at T10 in 04', my coworkers jokingly asked if while I was tumbling, "sky, ground, sky....", if I could hear myself screaming inside my helmet:laughing


:loco Mark :loco

[Sidewalk]

Loud pipes don't save lives :D

[scout]

If deaf people can drive, then so should blind people:x:cool


They do, every once in a while they try to run in to us.