HARD-OF-HEARING AS DRIVERS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24899, 12 June 1946, Page 8

HARD-OF-HEARING AS DRIVERS

FREEDOM FROM TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

FACULTY OF SIGHT THE PRIME ESSENTIAL The greatly diminished use of motor car horns as a driving adjunct, and the actual prohibition of the use of warning devices in certain periods except for reasonable traffic needs, are clear proof of the acceptance of the principle that sight, or vision, coupled with obedience to the rules of safety embodied in regulations, is more important than hearing (says the ‘‘New Zealand Motor World”). If other proof were needed, it exists in the freedom of the hard-of-hearing from traffic accidents.

With the trend of motoring thought against the use of motor horns except for reasonable traffic needs, persons who are hard of hearing, or who indeed, are stone deaf, are at no great disadvantage, if any, in driving motor vehicles. If one is obeying strictly the cardinal rules of the road as to speed, position, signals, and so on, and has his car under such control that he can stop in half the distance of clear road ahead, of what use can the sounding of someone else’s horn be to him? "Of what use is it to those of us who have hearing and sight, yet travel too fast tor any horn to save us? Driver Becomes More Careful The loss of hearing, as is well known, stimulates the use of sight, and the driver becomes more careful as a compensating factor. This question of care is something real to people with a physical disability. There is a zealous effort at all time to show such skill and care that attention is not drawn to they* disability. It becomes a matter of pride. It is found that the hard-of-hearing, as well as those who have other disabilities, very rarely figure in accidents of their own causing. Again, the hard-of-hearing are just as well placed for receiving external sounds as those who drive with the windows closed, or those whose cars or trucks make so much noise that hearing is impossible of the overtaking -car. We have all followed the driver of the noisy truck, the driver with sight and hearing, but lacking the commonsense to suggest that he keep as close as practicable to the left-hand side of the road. Noisy passengers or the radio do not make it possible at all times to hear external noises. The simple explanation is this—noises are not essential to motoring safety. It is a fact that persons who are quite deaf on the streets are so affected by the vibration in a motor vehicle that they can hear. The same effect is noted by men who are hard of hearing away from their worhi but when among the machinery they hear well. Applications for Licences

Traffic authorities deal in a commonsense manner with all applicants for drivers’ licences. Applicants who are hard of hearing are put through their paces perhaps a little more thoroughly by the inspector, and in special .circumstances a doctor’s certificate as to general health may be necessary. The fact that a person has defective hearing has, of course, to be stated on the application form. There are quite a few persons who are stone deaf who have been driving motor-vehicles for- years, and ip perfect safety. No doubt there will be returned servicemen applicants for drivers’ licences who will appreciate the fact that damaged hearing does not preclude them from the pleasure of motor travel or the ability to earn a living through the use of a car or truck.