ID :
12136
Fri, 07/11/2008 - 11:13
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/12136
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Disabled drivers learn about road safety
Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs held a trial road-safety training course for the hard of hearing in Hanoi this week in a bid to reduce accidents and traffic violations.
There are 5.3 million disabled people in Vietnam . Many ride motorbikesor drive cars, yet few are familiar with the rules of the road.
"I have been fined several times for traffic rule violation as I do not know what the various traffic signs means," said Nguyen Trong Khanh, from Hanoi, who is partially deaf.
Khanh, 26, like many other people with disabilities, does not have a drivinglicence. On July 8, he began a two-day road-safety course in Hanoi .
"This is the first time such a training course has been held for people with hearing problems on a trial basis in Hanoi," said Nguyen Hong Ha, manager ofan aid project promoting road safety among the disabled.
"If the trial project is successful, we hope it will be expanded to includepeople with other disabilities," said Ha.
She added that the initiative was also aimed at raising awareness of theproblem among policy-makers and the community at large.
"This course is designed to meet the needs of the disabled to improve traffic safety," said Nghiem Xuan Tue, director of the National Coordinating Committee on Disability in Vietnam (under the Ministry of Labour,Invalids and Social Affairs).
Tue said the Minister of Transport on March 20 issued a decision on givingdriving lessons to the disabled.
Under the draft plan, disabled drivers over the age of 18, who have a health certificate in line with the Health Ministry's regulations, will be able totake a driving test.
However, Tue said it is necessary to look into the matter further andinvolve disabled people themselves directly in drafting the plan.
" I hope that policy-makers and relevant ministries and agencies will conduct more research and consider the granting of driving licences to people with disabilities to help us drive more safety and legally," saidKhanh, who has been fined three times for not having a driving licence.
"I now understand more about traffic rules. I understand the different road signs, which I hope will help prevent me from making further trafficviolation," said Tran Hau Cuong, who is also attending the course.
The training course won a 10,000 USD award at the 2007 Viet Nam Innovation Day, organised by the World Bank and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency.-Enditem
There are 5.3 million disabled people in Vietnam . Many ride motorbikesor drive cars, yet few are familiar with the rules of the road.
"I have been fined several times for traffic rule violation as I do not know what the various traffic signs means," said Nguyen Trong Khanh, from Hanoi, who is partially deaf.
Khanh, 26, like many other people with disabilities, does not have a drivinglicence. On July 8, he began a two-day road-safety course in Hanoi .
"This is the first time such a training course has been held for people with hearing problems on a trial basis in Hanoi," said Nguyen Hong Ha, manager ofan aid project promoting road safety among the disabled.
"If the trial project is successful, we hope it will be expanded to includepeople with other disabilities," said Ha.
She added that the initiative was also aimed at raising awareness of theproblem among policy-makers and the community at large.
"This course is designed to meet the needs of the disabled to improve traffic safety," said Nghiem Xuan Tue, director of the National Coordinating Committee on Disability in Vietnam (under the Ministry of Labour,Invalids and Social Affairs).
Tue said the Minister of Transport on March 20 issued a decision on givingdriving lessons to the disabled.
Under the draft plan, disabled drivers over the age of 18, who have a health certificate in line with the Health Ministry's regulations, will be able totake a driving test.
However, Tue said it is necessary to look into the matter further andinvolve disabled people themselves directly in drafting the plan.
" I hope that policy-makers and relevant ministries and agencies will conduct more research and consider the granting of driving licences to people with disabilities to help us drive more safety and legally," saidKhanh, who has been fined three times for not having a driving licence.
"I now understand more about traffic rules. I understand the different road signs, which I hope will help prevent me from making further trafficviolation," said Tran Hau Cuong, who is also attending the course.
The training course won a 10,000 USD award at the 2007 Viet Nam Innovation Day, organised by the World Bank and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency.-Enditem
