How do Deaf people drive?

bjcomix

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Hi-

This might sound silly, but how Does a Deaf person drive differently from a hearing person? How do Deaf people know if an ambulance or fire truck is coming from behind? How do Deaf people sign while driving? How about at night? I'm hearing, obviously, and I'm curious. Also, are there any devices Deaf people use to help them? I think some people use large rearview mirrors, but I don't know of anything else.
I'm a design student, trying to come up with some ideas for a project. I'd appreciate your thoughts.
 
Hi-

This might sound silly, but how Does a Deaf person drive differently from a hearing person? How do Deaf people know if an ambulance or fire truck is coming from behind? How do Deaf people sign while driving? How about at night? I'm hearing, obviously, and I'm curious. Also, are there any devices Deaf people use to help them? I think some people use large rearview mirrors, but I don't know of anything else.
I'm a design student, trying to come up with some ideas for a project. I'd appreciate your thoughts.


I took Driving Education when I was 16 years old. I learnt what every other peer learnt.

I simply rely on my rearview mirror a lot.

Last week, a cop was behing me on a motorcyle with his siren on. I thought he was asking ME to pull over. I pulled over but realized that he wanted the driver in a huge white SUV with California license plates in the lane next to me. So that was who he pulled over.

I will never be perfect with knowing if cop or ambulance is behind me but I have vibes that hearing people dont. It may take me 1 or 2 minutes longer but Im always there in the end.

Turtles always win - not hares.
 
-Deaf people usually have more visual alert while driving than hearing people.
-According to one of insurance companies: Deaf people drive safer than hearing people.
-I hope you don't find this offended, but it is all about the fact.


-If you want a link/proof, ask away!
 
If the sound is a requirement, then why there is traffic lights, car having lights ambulance, firetrucks, and cops have tons of lights? So, why must sound be the only thing to qualify for driving? Even at factory, the forklift must have flashing lights... So whats these point for, if the sound is the only thing is required??? I am sorry to be blunt, this is really an insult to the injury!

In fact, I still don't understand why these closed minded hearing people freaked out about deafness, but don't mind blindness??? This does not even make any sense to me at all!
 
I think it's safe to say that, being deaf, we use our remaining faculties to a greater degree than hearing people. And, as a general rule, deaf drivers are not singled out for higher than normal insurance premiums. Furthermore, a Judge Sherman Finesilver of Colorado once said, "Hearing nor the lack of it IS NOT a basis for safe driving".
 
perfect example!!! Yankees got all of these "All star" players, all of these players are the top notch, got everything Yankees needed to win... Did they win world series this year? Howcome one lousy team with nothing but a starter yanked the Yankees out of the play-offs!

This proves that it does NOT pay to discriminate for the "Perfect" ones!

Why do we need "EVERYTHING" just to be perfect?
 
Have you heard any ambulance or firetruck or police accident caused by a deaf driver?

I'm sure that it's very rare but may have happened one or 2 somewhere in many years.

I haven't heard of one in last 30 years. I drove for over 25 years by now and never had one myself either.

Often I do have a vibe whenever there is siren going by, if not everytime. To drive it takes eyes, not ears is all.

Yes, those posts before mine are good points, too.

Otherwise, we deafies enchance our "vibes" or 6th sense replacing our hearing so it helps sometime.

Surprised? Not much to us deafies, really - lol.

But I can understand your curiousity being a hearie, however. Wish your research well.
 
What is the difference between a deaf person driving, or a hearing person driving in a car with the music cranked up so loud that he cannot hear anything outside the car? I remember telling one of my friends to pull over because an ambulance was behind us, but he had his music on so loud.
 
It's seems stupid question. :roll:

Of course, deaf people can drive, and skill is just average as hearing people but cannot hear from horn, siren and other sound related on car, including listen to radio about traffic and weather, unless able to get hear in car with hearing aids or CI.
 
perfect example!!! Yankees got all of these "All star" players, all of these players are the top notch, got everything Yankees needed to win... Did they win world series this year? Howcome one lousy team with nothing but a starter yanked the Yankees out of the play-offs!

This proves that it does NOT pay to discriminate for the "Perfect" ones!

Why do we need "EVERYTHING" just to be perfect?

I agree... You are Yankee?
 
Hi-

This might sound silly, but how Does a Deaf person drive differently from a hearing person? How do Deaf people know if an ambulance or fire truck is coming from behind? How do Deaf people sign while driving? How about at night? I'm hearing, obviously, and I'm curious. Also, are there any devices Deaf people use to help them? I think some people use large rearview mirrors, but I don't know of anything else.
I'm a design student, trying to come up with some ideas for a project. I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Deaf people uses their eyes to hear and see nor hear through their ears with hearing aids or any other device., if an ambulance is coming down the road from behind, I cannot hear it unless it is very close by, I have to pay attention what's around me, Deaf people are required to have 3 mirrors while driving a vehicle, two outside mirrors and one inside mirror. We take the same driver education course, We also have the same temporary driving permit and we also take the same final driving exam as hearing people. ;)

I don't sign while I drive, I have to keep my eyes on the roads to avoid having the vehicle lose control or accidents. What about those hearing who talk on cellular phones? I've seen lost of control of their vehicles while they're on the phone and driving at the same time.
 
I am NOT YL! I am YH!!!

Not sure what YH stands for? It stands for Yankees HATERS!

then go move to south.

There's other word for yankee, that people who from northeast, midwest and northwest.
 
Normal people have 5 sense: visual, audio, feel, taste and smell.

However, for deaf who have no audio experience or less, the part of brain that left 5% increase more took over all rest of sense for boost.

Wow! I can see far better! *looking at porn*
 
Well, I love Anaheim Angeles! :-D

Hey, I know it now is Los Angeles Angeles

I grew up living in Black and Gold country and that is in Nor'Eastern!

then go move to south.

There's other word for yankee, that people who from northeast, midwest and northwest.
 
what about car horns?

Do Deaf people ever find themselves doing something in the car at a red light (like texting or looking at people in the back seat) and not realize the light has just turned green? I know that when this happens to me I'm startled by the car horn behind me. Is it tough driving without hearing car horns?
 
alll right ......... if you really wanted to know how a deaf person drives a vehicle?.......... think back for a minute......... there was a brand new car called LEXUS that car is sound proof ......... how do HEARING people hear what's going on outside of that particular car?...... it's the same idea .... deaf people have a tendancy to rely on visual ........
 
Do Deaf people ever find themselves doing something in the car at a red light (like texting or looking at people in the back seat) and not realize the light has just turned green? I know that when this happens to me I'm startled by the car horn behind me. Is it tough driving without hearing car horns?

At the red light, I usual look in my indoor mirror to see what my two sons are doing back there, I don't even own a sk2 or pager for all that matters, Sometimes I don't realized that the light turned green until I see it, but hearing people do the same as well when they're not paying attention either. I am glad I don't hear the vehicles horns, because it would disturb my driving.

When people honking their horns, I've seen other drivers would flip a bird at them and then there goes a road rage. That's why I am glad I cannot hear anyone honking at me. :)
 
Hi-

This might sound silly, but how Does a Deaf person drive differently from a hearing person? How do Deaf people know if an ambulance or fire truck is coming from behind? How do Deaf people sign while driving? How about at night? I'm hearing, obviously, and I'm curious. Also, are there any devices Deaf people use to help them? I think some people use large rear-view mirrors, but I don't know of anything else.
I'm a design student, trying to come up with some ideas for a project. I'd appreciate your thoughts.

I'd like to jump in and share my perspectives.

1) How does a Deaf person drive differently from a hearing person?

We don't drive much differently as compared to those hearing peers but however we do use our eyes more by using the basic common regulations of checking the rear-view mirrors and side door mirrors, and all that kind of stuffs which is required by being on the road.

2) How do Deaf people know if an ambulance or fire truck is coming from behind?

There are times I admit I did not even realize that the emergency vehicles were behind me but that is what the rear-view mirror is for to put to use by checking it every 30 seconds or so. They (the ambulance/firetrucks/police vehicles) usually would give a space (or a timing) before you're pulled over and they usually are mostly pleased with it. However I do realize that in a case, it can get serious. So it is basically our responsibility to check the rear view mirrors and the surrounding that is around us before one of those vehicles pops out of nowhere.

3)How do Deaf people sign while driving?

I'd have to ask, How do Hearing People jabber off while they drive? How can they really focus on the road when they are deeply engaged in a conversation on a cell phone as well? That same concept applies to the deaf drivers. For me, I usually try to keep the conversation to the minimum with a passenger who signs in order to have my eyes on the road. Our eyes are constantly moving around and multitasking, so I guess you could say that when you get the hang of it, You pretty much become familiar with it's functions.

4) How about at night?
At night time when we drive, We use the dome light that is inside the vehicle to engage into a conversation but however, I don't normally have it on when I am in an area that has deep edged curves because it helps me focus on the road and has a better handle of using the steering wheel.

On the other hand, Driving at night time has it's own advantage because when an emergency vehicle has it's siren lights on - It is much easier to be noticeable whereas it is still somewhat noticeable in the daytime.


There was a similar question to this in another thread which is - Being deaf and driving and this is what I had to say in that thread -

Actually, It is really simple for us deaf people learn how to drive because we become more dependent on our eyes. It's like when you lose one of the sense, the other sense gains in order to work much better. We go through the same procession just as other hearing people do by taking driver's education or other paths in order to obtain a driver's license.

Just to be aware, If you were asked to say "Can deaf people drive?" - That would be taken in a different light only considered to be offensive because we do can drive. We don't let our deafness stop us from doing the daily routine just as much as others do too.
 
Jolie_77 - that was really helpful. Thanks. Do you know of any devices inside the car that light up when a car horn honks or an ambulance is coming from behind? I'm working on a project now that seems to be headed in this direction.
thanks!
 
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