Banning Sign Language When Driving
>By Leonard Hall
>Across the country, there are legislative bills being introduced in state
legislatures to ban the use of a cell phone while driving a motor vehicle.
Several states have adopted such a law.
>In the political world, there are ways to add a section onto a proposed
legislative bill which is on a different subject matter so as to make the bill
so unpopular that it will not pass due to major opposition by a large group.
>In West Virginia, one group supporting the bill to ban the use of a cell
phone while driving added a section to ban the use of sign language while
driving a motor vehicle!
>Studies have shown that drivers using their cell phone are three times more
likely to get into an accident and five times more likely to not pay
attention to traffic lights.
>Everyone knows that using a cell phone while driving on the streets and
highways affects traffic safety. Every week, I have seen a driver who is using
a cell phone who is not driving in a safe manner.
>However, there has been no study that shows that the use of sign language
by a driver while driving carries a higher risk of having an accident than
those people who did not use sign language.
>According to my recollection, a few studies showed that deaf people are
better drivers with fewer accidents than their hearing peers. Based upon these
studies, insurance companies stopped charging higher premiums for deaf people
many years ago.
>A representative said that the group is not attacking the deaf people, but
is attempting to drive down the number of distractions on the road. They do
not see how a deaf person can drive and sign safely at the same time.
>Even if there is a study supporting the ban on the use of sign language
while driving, the law should be expanded so that drivers should not talk while
driving. Talking while driving a vehicle involves the same brain functions as
a deaf person using sign language.
>Whether we communicate by talking or by signing while driving, it is the
same distraction. Our brains are focusing on communication, not on our
driving. Sometimes, the person talking will turn to the other person and look for a
feedback.
>Talking while driving is just as unsafe as a deaf person using sign
language while driving. While driving my vehicle, I may use sign language when I am
talking to other passengers in my car.
>My son often tells me not to use sign language while driving, yet, when I
am riding with hearing people, I find that verbal communication is a major
distraction to the driver.
>There is a big battle now going on in the West Virginia Legislature about
the bill banning the use of cell phone and sign language while driving.
>The belief of the group proposing the ban of sign language while driving is
not much different from groups in foreign countries that continue to
advocate that deaf people should not drive at all.
>There are still countries in this world that will not allow deaf people to
get a license to drive a motor vehicle. It is a dishonor to see that deaf
people in West Virginia would have to battle the state legislature to remove
the section banning the use of sign language while driving.
>(Leonard writes weekly column for the deaf community and can be reached at
Legalnetwk@aol.com)
>By Leonard Hall
>Across the country, there are legislative bills being introduced in state
legislatures to ban the use of a cell phone while driving a motor vehicle.
Several states have adopted such a law.
>In the political world, there are ways to add a section onto a proposed
legislative bill which is on a different subject matter so as to make the bill
so unpopular that it will not pass due to major opposition by a large group.
>In West Virginia, one group supporting the bill to ban the use of a cell
phone while driving added a section to ban the use of sign language while
driving a motor vehicle!
>Studies have shown that drivers using their cell phone are three times more
likely to get into an accident and five times more likely to not pay
attention to traffic lights.
>Everyone knows that using a cell phone while driving on the streets and
highways affects traffic safety. Every week, I have seen a driver who is using
a cell phone who is not driving in a safe manner.
>However, there has been no study that shows that the use of sign language
by a driver while driving carries a higher risk of having an accident than
those people who did not use sign language.
>According to my recollection, a few studies showed that deaf people are
better drivers with fewer accidents than their hearing peers. Based upon these
studies, insurance companies stopped charging higher premiums for deaf people
many years ago.
>A representative said that the group is not attacking the deaf people, but
is attempting to drive down the number of distractions on the road. They do
not see how a deaf person can drive and sign safely at the same time.
>Even if there is a study supporting the ban on the use of sign language
while driving, the law should be expanded so that drivers should not talk while
driving. Talking while driving a vehicle involves the same brain functions as
a deaf person using sign language.
>Whether we communicate by talking or by signing while driving, it is the
same distraction. Our brains are focusing on communication, not on our
driving. Sometimes, the person talking will turn to the other person and look for a
feedback.
>Talking while driving is just as unsafe as a deaf person using sign
language while driving. While driving my vehicle, I may use sign language when I am
talking to other passengers in my car.
>My son often tells me not to use sign language while driving, yet, when I
am riding with hearing people, I find that verbal communication is a major
distraction to the driver.
>There is a big battle now going on in the West Virginia Legislature about
the bill banning the use of cell phone and sign language while driving.
>The belief of the group proposing the ban of sign language while driving is
not much different from groups in foreign countries that continue to
advocate that deaf people should not drive at all.
>There are still countries in this world that will not allow deaf people to
get a license to drive a motor vehicle. It is a dishonor to see that deaf
people in West Virginia would have to battle the state legislature to remove
the section banning the use of sign language while driving.
>(Leonard writes weekly column for the deaf community and can be reached at
Legalnetwk@aol.com)
.. never hit on the curb or else. .. when I signs to my mom but my mom telling me " I AM DRIVING!! I cant look at you when you are talking" 
Oh, well. Just becuz I updated it last year but I will update it soon. 
But it can be costly. 
insurance forms if they ever hit my vehicle with their lame excuses (cellphones, fiddling the radios, puttin' on the make-ups, etc..). I wish. So I can take their vehicles. 
Tehehehehehehe...Mookie. 