No-texting law applies to deaf drivers

Miss-Delectable

Miss-Delectable

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http://www.mercurynews.com/mrroadshow/ci_11338519

Q I feel the new law banning texting in the car is discriminatory to deaf people, who use text pagers to communicate with others. We do realize that this is a dangerous practice, and therefore understand that the ban is for safety reasons. However, hearing people are still allowed to use Bluetooth sets while driving, even though you have cited research showing that using a cell phone, whether hands-free or not, is still dangerous due to the mental distraction caused by the act of talking, instead of paying attention to your driving. So, our right to keep in communication in the car has been taken away from us, while hearing people retain that right for themselves. If all telecommunications, hands-free or not, were banned, I would have no problem with the ban on texting. But, in effect, deaf people are once again relegated to second-class citizen status.

Donald Grushkin

Newark

A Don, I'm going to disagree with you on the new law that takes effect Thursday banning text messaging by all drivers. If you need to communicate behind the wheel, pull over to the curb and send a message. You have started a blog on this — Dr. DonG.’s Deafhood Discourses » Another New Year, another discriminatory law! — and the discussion seems to support my view.
 
I agree with with the author of the article. It's not discrimination.

Hearing people use their voice to communicate phone-to-phone.

Deaf people use their text messages to communicate phone-to-phone.

So, if we're going to ban drivers from talking on their cell phones... the ban should also apply to text messaging.

I know a lot of people who have been in accidents because they were too focused on their mobile devices. :roll:
 
I agreed. All drivers (regardless of their disability status or whatsoever) must abide the same laws. If the law says you cannot TXT while driving, then TOUGH LUCK. This should not be exempted for deaf people because when you're txting, this is not about a mental distraction or amazing multi-tasking capability but it's because YOU ARE TAKING YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD!!!!

when you drive - PLEASE KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD WITH BOTH HANDS ON WHEEL. That's why the law allows people to talk on cellphone via bluetooth - their eyes are on the road and both of their hands are on the wheel. Yes it sucks for deaf people that we cannot talk via bluetooth but hey - do not abuse this privilege of being allowed to drive regardless of your disability status because you do not get this same privilege in other countries.
 
Jiro said:
I agreed. All drivers (regardless of their disability status or whatsoever) must abide them same laws. If the law says you cannot TXT while driving, then TOUGH LUCK. This should not be exempted for deaf people because when you're txting, this is not about a mental distraction or amazing multi-tasking capability but it's because YOU ARE TAKING YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD!!!!

when you drive - PLEASE KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD WITH BOTH HANDS ON WHEEL. That's why the law allows people to talk on cellphone via bluetooth - their eyes are on the road and both of their hands are on the wheel. Yes it sucks for deaf people that we cannot talk via bluetooth but hey - do not abuse this privilege of being allowed to drive regardless of your disability status because you do not get this same privilege in other countries.
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^^^ excellent posting.

people do not seem to understand that driving is a privilege, not a right.
 
I remember, a few years ago, my former supervisor from a group home (with her client) paged to her friend (for a chat) while she's driving, too late, *bang*, she hit the other driver's car and it was her fault because she was not paying attention on the road. An hour later, her client ran to me and told me what happened and I asked him if he was hurt. He said it hit his forehead, a little hurt. I reported it to the DMR and they came over, checked and questioned her client (and me) for 30 minutes. The DMR fired my former supervisor right on the spot.
 
i don't think this is discriminatory at all. as jiro and vampy pointed out, this is a matter of safety to oneself and other drivers.
 
No, I don't think so it was discrimination if included for everyone but if it does included for deaf people only then it could consider as discrimination or unfair.

I'm really don't care because of no law like that in my state for both of voice and text.
 
I agree with everyone here -- at a certain point it becomes an issue of safety and not discrimination.
 
authentic said:
She don't understand why Jiro talk too much. :laugh2:
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I'll admit that when I first started hearing about the no-texting law, I was a tad bit outraged about how we are not allowed to text anymore while driving, but hearing people can still talk on the phone provided they use a hands-free phone (headset, bluetooth, etc.) But it really is all about safety for yourself and other drivers as well. So for the past few months, I've put the blackberry down while driving -- not because it's a law, but because it's safer.
 
Jiro said:
I agreed. All drivers (regardless of their disability status or whatsoever) must abide the same laws. If the law says you cannot TXT while driving, then TOUGH LUCK. This should not be exempted for deaf people because when you're txting, this is not about a mental distraction or amazing multi-tasking capability but it's because YOU ARE TAKING YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD!!!!

when you drive - PLEASE KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD WITH BOTH HANDS ON WHEEL. That's why the law allows people to talk on cellphone via bluetooth - their eyes are on the road and both of their hands are on the wheel. Yes it sucks for deaf people that we cannot talk via bluetooth but hey - do not abuse this privilege of being allowed to drive regardless of your disability status because you do not get this same privilege in other countries.
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Agreed.

Although, The blue tooth device can be helpful but yet, it is still distracting for some drivers because they will get so immersed into the conversation to a point where they actually are "forgetting" where they are. It's like their mind is really not focusing on the road and it is somewhere else.

As for deaf people texting while driving - Yeah, It sucks when we can't text while we drive but this is in no way to make it an excuse for our deafness to moan or groan about the new law that bans text driving. That law is implemented for our safety but unfortunately, some people just don't care and would rather chose to abuse the privilege than taking the driving issue seriously.
 
Just imagine . . . 20 years ago people somehow managed to drive from point A to point B without texting or calling someone.
 
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