It is a long -awaited advance that will allow many people to finally have access to mobility. Interview with Florence Guillaume, interministerial delegate for road safety.
Passing the Highway Code is never easy for candidates. On the 40 questions asked, it is necessary to make less than 5 faults to obtain it in order to then be able to pass the driving license. But for some candidates, it is even more difficult than the others to read the statement, while observing the scenarios on the road, and to respond in time. Indeed, people with disabilities, especially deaf and hard of hearing people, could not make a classic test: they had to make an appointment with the prefecture so far and find a translator at their expense, explains Florence Guillaume, interministerial delegate for road safety.
From now on, they will be able to pass the highway code, which will be adapted in sign language throughout France. Good news for all these people with disabilities. Indeed, when examining the highway code, questions can be read in writing, but “There is also an oral part, including questions of situation with films, and one can quickly lose understanding of the situation. Also, having questions translated into sign language allows you to read and understand better, thus promoting equal opportunities. It seems to fall under the meaning, but it is very little practiced in the world “Florence Guillaume specifies to us who welcomes having recently received the innovation prize for this novelty in France by the International Commission for Driving License Examinations (CIECA). “”Just under a dozen European countries“have set up the highway code in sign language for the car license, and”For the motorcycle, we are the only ones ! “She adds.
Because yes, people who do not hear can completely drive without danger, and it is the same driving license as all users. “”We can set up different things that if we are sure not to impact the safety of people and other users “, confirms the interministerial delegate for road safety. “”You can adapt your apprenticeship and compensate for your difficulties with technical adjustments. For deaf and hard of hearing people for example, “There are rear vision devices, before and lateral, but also sound sensors: the driver immediately knows that something abnormal happens around him“, She explains. In addition, people with disabilities are often more attentive and concentrated on the road than other motorists, especially those who take the wheel by taking a look at their smartphone.
This new highway code will therefore be distributed to all departments in the prefectures road education offices, in which correspondents specific to disability issues were trained in order to better inform and support people who need them. The high school language code should therefore be set up before the start of the summer, by the end of June, tells us Florence Guillaume. Each year in France, 4000 deaf and hard of hearing people pass their highway code. This novelty should make it possible to attract more candidates and to promote inclusiveness and access to mobility.
