Parliamentary Committee proposes to streamline driving licenses for disabled
A special parliamentary committee has proposed key policy changes and legislative amendments to streamline the process of obtaining driving licences for persons with disabilities following its inaugural meeting held in Parliament recently.
The committee, appointed by the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways and Urban Development, focused on expanding driving licence eligibility for individuals with visual and hearing impairments, introducing district level medical examinations and establishing clear guidelines for modifying vehicles to suit specific physical needs.
Discussions centered on modifying procedures at the National Transport Medical Institute (NTMI) and amending relevant Gazette notifications. Among the key measures proposed were evaluating medical criteria based on field of vision assessments to allow visually impaired individuals access to a broader range of vehicle categories, integrating sign language interpreters, using special identification signs for drivers with hearing impairments and allowing a single license holder to register multiple adapted vehicles.
To remove administrative hurdles, the committee emphasized upgrading the digital system connecting the NTMI and the Department of Motor Traffic, streamlining medical checks and building institutional awareness to uphold the transportation rights of persons with disabilities while maintaining strict road safety standards.
