By Alhaji Alhassan Abdulai
The Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority DVLA formerly known as the Vehicle Examination and Licensing Division VELD has been performing creditably since its establishment by act of parliament in 1999. Indeed the DVLA?s role has led to the production of many good drivers who are ?safety conscious? on our roads. Indeed as a result of good performance of DVLA?? it ranks high in Africa in terms of promotion of good driving and road safety.
However an emerging challenge confronting DVLA and the nation is the burning desire of the deaf and?? hearing impaired people in Ghana to take part in driving on our roads. Ordinarily the blind and hearing impaired and deaf people are required to stay clear from driving. But experiences elsewhere in the world including Uganda, Kenya and South Africa have shown that the deaf and hearing impaired people are capable of driving. Indeed these categories of people are found to be better drivers.
Many people and organizations in Ghana high and low are pleading with the government and the DVLA to embark on the process of allowing the deaf and hearing impaired people to drive vehicles in Ghana. DVLA can learn from countries in Europe, America and Africa on how nations on these continents managed to allow the deaf to drive on their roads.???? What some people are saying in support of driving by the deaf is that it will be fair and non discriminatory for good drivers who are deaf to be given?? driving licenses to be able to drive on our roads.? Some of the deaf drivers were good drivers for many years holding valid driver?s license before they lost their sense of hearing. One of such organizations fighting in support of deaf drivers is the Ghana Association of the Deaf with Mr. James Mokinyabi? Sambian as its Executive ?Director. The association is pleading with DVLA to turn its attention to the plight of hearing impaired drivers in Ghana.? According to the association, over the past years concerned individuals and organizations have been fighting for deaf people who can drive to be issued with driving licenses – which is a right according to our constitution and the Disability Law of Ghana passed in 2006. Yet the authorities are yet to heed to this call. The association went on to say that
According to the World Health Organization estimates, 278 million people worldwide have moderate to profound hearing loss in both ears.
In Ghana, according to the 2010 Housing and Population Census, 234,000 people have hearing and speech disability. The 1992 Constitution, the Disability Rights Law, and various international conventions on the rights of persons with disability, make provisions for the inclusion of persons with disability in all facets of national life ? as far as practicable.
Although Deaf people have a right to own driving licenses if they pass a driving test, we do recognize that this right is yet to be accorded them.
The association said it ?humbly requests? governments ?kind consideration to put in place, the necessary systems and processes that would enable deaf people in Ghana own driving licenses as pertains in other African countries such as Uganda, South Africa and Kenya to mention only three.
According to the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), there are no known reports that deaf drivers are a threat to other road users in the countries where deaf people are allowed to obtain a driving license, or that they are involved in more traffic accidents or injuries than the general population. The survey goes further to say that deaf drivers are better than hearing ones because they respect road safety regulations and use rear-mirrors more effectively on the roads. Also, because their hearing is impaired, their other senses are naturally trained and sharp to compensate for the loss of hearing.
Deafness or disability for that matter should not hinder the quality of life.
The right to drive and the privilege given by DVLA is not a trivial one. Without a driving permit, Deaf people are restricted in their ability to work and to access medical, educational, career, community, information, leisure and other services. The Traffic and Safety Act 1998 of Uganda prohibits denial of a driving permit on the basis of disability. If already not so, Ghana may want to consider the provisions herein.
Many people wonder how a Deaf person can drive without being able to hear audible cues such as a police siren, an ambulance needing the right of way, or even a honking horn. There are several ways around this problem. However the most common is that most deaf people simply pay attention to visual cues, such as the flashing lights of an emergency vehicle, frequent use of peripheral vision, frequent use of rear view mirrors or cues from other drivers on the road. For example, noticing other drivers move to the side of the road is a strong indicator that an emergency vehicle is approaching.
Hearing people might also wonder how a Deaf person would communicate with a police officer if pulled over. Deaf drivers could be required to carry ID cards to let police officers know that they are Deaf and to suggest ways to communicate, such as by writing in a notebook which is always available in the car. Another system that is used worldwide is to have a sticker ?Deaf Driver? on the car to alert other road users and the police.
Driving is mainly a visual activity. There is research to suggest that Deaf people who drive have better peripheral vision than hearing people – surely an advantage for Deaf people when driving.
Driving gives one a sense of independence, pride, self-esteem, and belongingness, and rejection thereof tantamount to violation of civil rights and a case of prejudice and discrimination of the dominant society.
The laws of Ghana seek to promote inclusion at all levels and inclusion is based on the rights of the individual (disabled or non- disabled) to full participation in national life. On this basis, the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD) is making a passionate appeal to the Board of DVLA, to consider, as a matter of urgency, the need to establish systems and processes that would enable Deaf people in Ghana to own driving licenses, within the shortest possible time.
EANFOWORLD FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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