My attention was drawn to the derogatory comments Nairalanders were hurling at the Keke NAPEP deaf driver in the story posted here yesterday. If you didn't see the post, here is it https://www.nairaland.com/2905491/deaf-keke-driver-inspiration-danger

I create this thread purposely to enlighten those ignorant folks and the general public at large that had a wrong mindset about deaf people because of their inability to hear well or cannot hear at all.

A deaf person can do everything even better than their hearing counterpart except hearing.

Out of the five (5) sense organs, the eyes perceive about 80% of the information about environment while the other four (4) sense organs share the remaining 20% including ears. http://www.about-vision.com/human-eye

Because of the inability to hear, a deaf has to make maximum use of the sight to make up for the hearing loss. This makes the deaf to have foresight which most people don't have.

As par driving, I myself as a deaf, I have driven from Abuja to Lagos on several occasions. I have 20 years driving experience and never for once had an accident neither did I ever made any mistake on the highway that can be ascribed to my hearing impairment.

So I was just laughing when comments like "how will deaf hear the horn of vehicles coming from behind him?". As said earlier, almost all deaf have foresight, the ability to predict or imagine things correctly based on their experience which an average person doesn't have. This ability makes it possible for deaf drivers to prevent a situation where a vehicle will have to beep them before they give way.

Questions can roll in and I will answer them all.

Readers can as well read this write up https://www.facebook.com/notes/gbenga-bunmi-aina/that-deaf-and-dumb-story-and-editorial/10151640309721131

In driving, what matter most is focused attention, good eye sight and an adequate understanding of traffic rules and signs. Hearing is subordinate to it.

For goodness sake, all you naysayers casting aspersions and derogatory comments on your fellow compatriots who you ought to encourage for overcoming the odds of hearing to to achieving the feat of riding (motorcycle etc) and driving (cars etc),what is wrong in a deaf driver or rider driving and riding especially when he/she doesn't constitute any form of danger to other road users?

This is my comment to one of many unfriendly and unkind commentators on a blog regarding the deaf Keke driver:



Ogechi,

Let me tell you a little about myself. I am hard-of-hearing (a variant of deafness, in that mine is mild wearing hearing aids. Nevertheless, in general parlance, it is still categorised as deafness). I drive a Golf 4 plying major roads inter-and intra-states. I drive from Lagos to Abuja safely by God's grace without any rancour or problem. I even picked up passengers who flagged me down traveling the same route I was. I made them understand my hearing status, they all showed understanding and confidence when they saw the skillful and smooth way I drove. Getting to our destination safely and in time, most of them praised and thanked me.

I have been driving since 2006 and I have undergone driving tests and all other tests there are to obtaining driver's license and I met no opposition because I demonstrated convincingly my ability to drive. The only issue they had was my eye-sight clarity which was considered as important prerequisite to safe driving. I wear eyeglasses and was asked to remove it during eye test. Didn't see clearly, then was asked to wear it, and I saw and read out all the minutest letters in the microscope-like instrument. After all said and done, I was given my license and have been driving ever since without constituting dangers to fellow road users.

Now, in your scathing remarks above, you made an allegation that deaf drivers constitute dangers to other road users, I want to ask you to please state , unbiasely, and clearly, with evidence, what dangers deaf drivers constitute to others. He e you seen any such case of your allegation before all of the years of life you've lived in this world. Awaiting your response.

http://www.lailasblog.com/2016/02/is-this-keke-driver-inspiration-or.html?showComment=1454413293437&m=1

Abeg lalasticlala do the needful by helping to move this to front page to enlighten our folks.

So Deaf person no fit drive? Yeye people! That you have no car or bike to drive doesnt mean that you should ridicule a Deaf driver. That you are jobless doesnt mean you should talk against a Deaf driver who earns honest income doing legitimate business.

All road accidents I have read and seen are caused by HEARING DRIVERS. I am yet to read FRSC report where Deaf drivers are alleged to have caused road accidents.

Driving, using your EYES and not your EARS is the surest way to reach your destination!

I am loving you OP. I read through the previous post and I am still surprised at the level of ignorance we exhibit here. The Deaf people are licensed to drive in developed countries and here we are talking against a Keke Napepe Deaf driver. What can't the Deaf do?

Seun, lalasticala please move this to front page.

Suffice it to say here that many people didn't know that Deaf drivers are the BEST Drivers!

Whaat! I can hear you murmuring. The fact is that, while driving, a deaf driver concentrates 100%, adjusting the two mirrors on either side of the vehicle while glancing occasionally into the rear view mirror to monitor other vehicle movements and traffics. He talks to no one. He concentrates fully on the act of driving, and can only talk or exchange communications with passengers if he stopped fully or slowed down practically.

Compared this to some hearing drivers who talks endlessly with passengers, some play loud musics and do other stuff while on the wheel. Statistics realating to accidents on daily basis found hearing drivers worst culprits of most of the accidents and crashes and not the deaf drivers.

Interestingly, another revelation I'm going to mention now is that, unknown to many, powerful and wealthy business men prefers deaf drivers and personal assistants especially when they are attending very very private business meetings and conferences in order to guard their business secrets as they found out that most times their hearing drivers and PAs always eavesdrops on their conversations!

Deaf are also entrusted with cooking for some of these high profile business men and as security guards. In some corporate organisations, deaf guards are used during daytime who scrutinizes customers and staff and prevents thefts better than hearing guards. To those complaining that lack of a sense of hearing or deafness should disqualify the deaf from possession of a driving licence have missed the point!

Honestly speaking, the deaf can do anything but hear. If well trained and educated, as is done in developed countries, the deaf are found in almost all areas/fields of human endeavours including engineering, medical, health, accounting, banking and finance, management and administration etc.

Lack of effective policy and a Nigerian Disability Law at the national level that will cater for improved living conditions of the deaf and other categories of persons with disabilities coupled with large scale corruption is responsible for society's continued negative mindset and misconceptions about the deaf and other categories of persons with disabilities leading to people thinking the deaf cannot and mustn't drive and even do certain other works. its clear many people need awareness on deafness and development issues to enable them appreciate God who created man as a very unique creature with potentials and ability and that there is ability in disability, its in each individual.

Once again I call on Seun, Lalasticala to please help give this a widest publicity by moving it to the front page.

Op, stop calling Seun and co...... this thread is destined to be on front page.........

Page saved......... will read later..

Deaf People have exhibit traits of doing anything well except hear. All of you abusing the Deaf keke napep driver should pour water on a handful of sand mix it and use it to cover you two eyes, shame on you all. anyways Education is not equal to Common sense.

Hello,
@sttundex This is a really enlightening post and it is timely now, as it was when this conversation happened in 2016.

I would like us to converse more about it.
Kindly send me a mail at amb.martins.peace@gmail.com

Hello,
@sttundex and naijaman14

This is a really enlightening post pertaining to the deaf community in Nigeria and it is timely now, as it was when this conversation happened in 2016.

I would really like us to converse more about it.
Please, kindly send me a mail at amb.martins.peace@gmail.com

Thank you.