The Punjab Assembly has introduced the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Fourth Amendment) Bill 2025, proposing major changes to driving license regulations for individuals with hearing impairments.
Under the proposed amendments, individuals with hearing loss up to 40 decibels would be granted driving licenses, provided they use a hearing aid. Their driving tests would be conducted in the presence of an examiner or an interpreter trained in sign language.
For candidates with hearing loss exceeding 40 decibels, the use of approved assistive technology would be mandatory. The bill also proposes waiving fees for the issuance and renewal of driving licenses for hearing-impaired individuals.
Additionally, under the proposed rules, vehicles driven by hearing-impaired individuals would be required to display a specific identification sticker. However, hearing-impaired individuals would remain barred from obtaining licenses to operate emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, police vehicles, and fire trucks.
The bill further recommends including hearing impairment within the official definition of disability. Officials state that the amendments aim to introduce a safe, equal, and accessible driving license system for persons with disabilities.
