Hi,
Does anyone here drive a car or ride a bike regularly? How do you manage to do it with hearing loss? Is it actually safe to do it?
I neither drive nor ride. When I was young, I had a dream to have a bike and learn how to ride it. I think it’s time to make the dream true but I’m afraid my hearing impairment might be a barrier.
Also, a friend suggested that they could teach me to drive a car. Just thinking of it makes me nervous.
Please feel free to share your experiences with me!
Thanks
Deaf people can drive cars and motorcycles in the UK without restrictions. You should be able to learn to drive. What are the laws in Egypt?
Can you hear car horns and ambulance sirens? It would be a concern for me if I couldn’t hear them while driving or cycling.
Profoundly deaf hear, pre CI. When driving I couldn’t hear my indicators, emergency vehicles sirens or lights, as well as a lot of other things. My eyes became extremely important when driving. I taught myself to keep a close eye on my mirrors. I’d check my dash board when I put the indicator on to make sure it was flashing. There’s a lot of little things you teach yourself to do instinctively when driving.
I know that even with the same audiogram everyone is different, but…
Look at my right ear audiogram. You can definitely learn to drive!
I never learned to drive until years after my hearing loss @Zeeza… I disliked driving with some venom, but I lived in the Scottish Highlands, there is very little public transport, so getting around is challenging… More out of necessity than anything else, I decided to learn (28 years ago) basically your concentration levels have to be raised, on long journeys, it’s very tiring, but I try to keep these longer journeys to a bare minimum, or in most instances, I try to get someone else to drive! Apart from raised visual awareness, there is no real impediment to learning to drive… Good Luck, cheers Kev 
You are so right.
Do not listen to the radio either.
I am also profoundly deaf.
I have driven for years. Still do.
Newer generation cars have a lot of warning sounds. Due to profound HL, only Phonak Naida with frequency lowering, I am able to hear the warning sound (lane departure & turning signal). Oticon Xceed - no warning sound heard or hear some soft sound only.
I do not switch on the radio when driving with “Waze”, the direction is tuned towards the HA’s - Phonak & Oticon.
Driving a car would be better than a motorcycle if you afford one.
I’m afraid that most people don’t actually follow traffic laws here! Those who have visited Egypt or similar countries will understand what I mean! :)))
I hear horns, but I struggle with directionality!
Do indicators produce sound? It sounds like a lot of work would need to be done in case I learn to drive!
Thanks for the encouraging comment! :)))
This is quite motivating! Thanks for sharing your experience, @kevels55! :))
This is still a long way to go. I think I will start with a bike. :))
What do you all think about riding a bike? Any advice on that!
I’d like to bring to your attention that I’m in Egypt so we don’t have such tracks dedicated to bike riders.
When I was a kid in The Netherlands five decades ago I had a metal, red/white sign on the back of my bicycle that said SH (“slechthorend”, poor hearing). Not sure many others on the road (and certainly no foreigners) understood that, but it still exists (pictures).
When taking over another bicycle you may not hear a moped coming your way, but fast, electric bicycles are silent, so you must look well behind you anyway.
Poor hearing for car drivers is not really a problem. You may even legally wear headphones when driving, although that is not recommended. One situation where you must be extra careful is when you go in reverse, because you may have (loud) people in the way.
Like others here have said, your eyes are far, far more important, and also what else your brain might be doing (a bit of texting, anyone?). Buses used to have a sign “Do not speak with the driver” which is good advice in cars, too.
I am kindof nervous on a bike because I’m going to be slower than the traffic around me but in a car thats totally fine. I just drive my car like I stole it 
Good idea of putting a sign on the bike - local language and english.
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Some cars put - “Baby on board”. “You kiss You Pay” sign sticker!
Drive carefully and slowly. Be alert at junction. Look left and right all the time.
I ride a racing bike recreationally. I’ve been riding with a mirror since the late '70s or early '80s, but my fear escalated as my hearing got worse over the last 20 years.
About 5 years ago, I git HAs that weren’t threatened by sweat. With the HAs, I can hear noises on the road, so i know when I have to check my mirror.
BUT …
It’s hotter in Egypt than where I live.
Your hearing is worse than mine.
Sweat may be a bigger issue for you than it is for me.
Mountain bike and ride off road, away from cars and trucks?
Sounds a safe idea!
I think if I ever learn how to ride a bike or drive a car it will be in Safaga, a small, quiet city on the Red Sea. Cairo and Giza are a big no-no.
Luxor, my hometown, is quite conservative, and women don’t ride bikes there!
Thank you all for sharing your experiences and insights!
Sorry @Zeeza… I forgot the main obstacle in some conservative countries, and it is difficult for me to fathom, but I do try to understand, I am a great believer in gender equality, religious equality, and any other ethical issues, but I do accept that certain countries have different view’s, laws and values… Here, in the UK, they changed the law a couple of years or so back, basically because, too many cyclists were being killed in RTA’s (Road Traffic Accidents) with only the motorist left as a witness, so nowadays, if a motorist hits a push bike rider, they are guilty, unless they can prove, they weren’t at fault, so the onus is now on the vehicle driver to prove their innocence! I have an e-bike, (Electric Bike, with battery assistance) I always use a safety helmet, safety gloves, and also handlebars mirrors to see behind me, as we have lots of single track roads in the Highlands, so it’s imperative to know what is behind you, unfortunately, I will not always hear any traffic to my rear! I also use “High Visual Clothing” along with flashing repeater lights, these are fairly cheap on eBay, and they are charged up via a USB… In many ways, all this safety equipment might be considered a little bit of overkill, but I am a firm believer in safety first! Good Luck, cheers Kev
Yes- motorists always being guilty of cyclists in traffic accidents appears to be the rule in many countries. A bit odd… especially given that cyclists often appear unaware of traffic laws and hit the road without any obligation to learn them…
I drive and ride a bicycle (i cycle more than drive though).
Driving is ok, so long as nobody speaks to me as most/all my focus is on the road. If using my phone to navigate the directions can be streamed to my HAs, making life easier.
Cycling…is totally doable but you need to be just a little more cautious or aware compared to regular people. Until recently I was in a cycling club but I got to a point where trying to guess what people were talking about when out on the road became challenging. I just ride on my own now, mostly.
I ride road and gravel bikes and I’ve done super crazy long distance rides, like 160 miles in a day and for me all doable. Gravel/trail riding is my preference as there’s a lot less exposure to traffic. You can even buy a sensor for Garmin bike computers that alerts you to traffic behind. A mirror on your bars will also let you see behind.
See this article from a while ago about deaf cyclists. I'm deaf but it doesn't stop me cycling | Cycling | The Guardian
In terms of wind noise, Ear Gear helps but doesn’t remove it for me. On hot days I’ll switch to my spare HAs to avoid killing my daily drivers.
I’d recommend giving cycling a shot. Worth looking for a deaf/HoH cycling community and see if there’s anyone nearby.
I always wanted a mirror that fastened to eye/sun glasses. You can change where you’re looking by turning your head to see what is trying to hit you. (And in the motorcycling community, I think many of us believe they ARE trying to hit you…
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Maybe it’s a UK thing, but I see many vehicle drivers whom shouldn’t be allowed on the roads, the Highway Code doesn’t seem to apply to them, and they will circumvent the rules at every given opportunity! I believe the change to law was a good thing, too many vehicle drivers were overtaking cyclists, when it was unsafe to make that manoeuvre, the cyclist would end up in the ditch, perhaps dead or severely injured, because of the drivers impatience… For me, it’s a deterrent to keep your distance! I only overtake a cyclist when it is clear to do so… Having said that, last year, I hit a cyclist for my sins, it was on a farm road, single track, I had slowed right down to 5mph, as I approached him, from the rear, he turned off from the middle of the road, onto the grass verge, and kept on cycling, I naturally assumed he was letting me pass, he wasn’t, he was oblivious to my presence, luckily I was driving so slow, no real damage was done, apart from an extreme fright for both of us, when he suddenly drove back onto the road! It was at this point, I noticed the “Air Pods” in his ears, he’d been listening to music!!! For me, it was a valuable lesson learned, assume nothing, just because you think someone has heard you, it doesn’t mean they have, they could be deaf, or have pods in, listening to music… Cheers Kev
Thanks a lot for all the tips, Kev!
Could you please share a photo of the flashing repeater lights? I looked them up but I’m not sure I got the correct result!
I don’t listen to someone else while doing something. I can do only one thing at a time. The only exception is that I listen to songs while cooking but usually songs I already know their lyrics so my mind doesn’t have to work too much.
This is a big issue for me, even when I just walk. I like walking along the beach in Safaga. There were some windy days when I couldn’t hear anything. It’s safe on the beach but sometimes, people are around and, as a woman walking alone, I’d like to be aware of sounds around me.
Thanks for sharing the interesting article!
Indeed, I wish many people were aware of that as well!
