Interior Ministry expands range of vehicles for deaf, hearing-impaired drivers

The Georgian Interior Ministry on Tuesday announced it had expanded the range of vehicle categories and subcategories available to deaf and hearing-impaired drivers via joint amendments with the Ministry of Health, removing obstacles for these individuals to obtain a driving licence.

Deaf and hearing-impaired drivers will now be able to take driving tests for the B1 subcategory, alongside AM, A, B, BE, A1, and A2 categories of vehicles, without the need for operative intervention, prosthetics, or other means, and will be permitted to drive vehicles in these categories on passing the tests.

The draft of the joint order incorporated experiences from European countries and the United States, as well as the European Parliament and European Council directives of December 20, 2006, which does not impose any restrictions on driving vehicles in AM, A, B, BE, A1, A2, and B1 categories due to hearing impairment.

The Ministry said a United Nations Development Programme-supported study for the project examined best international practices for obtaining category B driving licences for deaf and hearing-impaired individuals.

The body added deaf and hearing-impaired individuals had been limited to vehicles in the AM and A1 categories, and could only take exams for B category vehicles if certain conditions were met.