PrDP License for the hearing impaired

Question

Can you please send information about the Road Traffic Act regulations regarding hearing impaired bus drivers whose hearing had been corrected with bilateral hearing aids. Could such a driver apply and qualify for a public driving permit?

Answer

A person is not disqualified from holding a drivers licence just because the individual may be hearing impaired (ie deaf) Section 15 1 (f) (vii) any other disease or physical defect ...... provided that deafness shall not itself be deemed to be such a defect Regulation 117 (b)refers to the above Section when dealing with disqualification for holding a PrDP as well as the Form MC which needs to be completed by a medical practitioner. In the Form MC deafness and the use of hearing aids is noted and the medical practitioner has to make a determination as to whether the level of the disability (defect) will cause the vehicle to be driven unsafely in public. In the end it is the OPINION of the medical practitioner as to whether the condition of the driver will be cause for unsafe driving. The answer is thus : NO deafness and the use of hearing aids DOES NOT preclude / disqualify a person from holding a PrDP (on condition that the opinion of the medical practitioner that it is safe for the individual to drive a vehicle).