Blind To Get Driver Licenses
FairCityNews.com | Feb 22, 2011 | Comments 0
Jefferson City MO – In a legal loophole brought about the Missouri Transportation Committee to require English only testing to obtain a Missouri drivers license, legally blind people will soon be able to get a license as well.
It appears that the committee’s efforts to push through the English speaking only bill has opened the door for the rights of the blind. Apparently with Seeing Eye dogs and high tech GPS devices there is now no reason why the blind cannot operate a motor vehicle. John Seeyalter, spokesman for the Missouri Chapter for the blind, had these comments, “This day has been a long time coming. For years the visually impaired have been able to cross the street with their dog. Now along with the dog they can cross the street in a car. The only requirement for the dog is that it must be on the passenger side of the vehicle and not in the back seat. Trained dogs will bark when to stop and go, GPS will tell the driver how far and when to turn. As long as the driver speaks and understands English driving should not be a problem.”
Tom Smokybar, a spokesman for the Highway Patrol, had no concerns at all for English only drivers. ”We never had a problem with a driver who can’t speak English because the road signs are in standardized international symbols. In fact, in Missouri you don’t even have to read the exam, because it can be given orally. We have all kinds of illiterate people take the test. This bill, if it passes, would not only allow blind people to drive, it might require the applicants to also have a GED or high school diploma.”
Charlie Lincoln, one of the bills sponsors, issued the following statement: “To be quite honest, we never saw the rights for blind people to drive coming. We thought that having English Only legislation of any kind would be a big hit with the voters. Now blind people will be able to drive as long as they understand English. I can see a problem if they are pulled over and don’t understand English. Then they might as well be deaf.”
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