Can an illiterate hold a driving licence?

Fred Swanson

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lollsangel

Fred Swanson wrote: »

Just curious. Is there any law that prohibits anyone who cannot read from driving?

Not that i know of BUT how would they pass the theory test if they cant read?

Fred Swanson

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jimbev

http://www.theorytest.ie/help/

Mr. Incognito

Just because you are illiterate doesnt mean you are stupid and unable to recognise / learn signs and their meaning

coylemj

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Just because you are illiterate doesnt mean you are stupid and unable to recognise / learn signs and their meaning

Taking umbrage at something nobody said or even hinted at? Or are you getting your retaliation in first?

cros13

Mr. Incognito wrote:

Just because you are illiterate doesnt mean you are stupid and unable to recognise / learn signs and their meaning

Except many temporary or rare signs, for example warning that the bridge ahead has been washed away need to be read.

Sleeper12

I passed my test around 30 years ago. Back then all I had to do was sign my name. They asked me questions & pointed to road signs so I could easily have gotten a full licence if I couldn't read or write.
Even with the modern test I'm sure there is a way to do it if you are illiterate. It would be seen as a type of disability. Maybe all questions & answers can be done orally.
Is there any reason why an illiterate person should not drive?

Mr. Incognito

coylemj wrote: »

Taking umbrage at something nobody said or even hinted at? Or are you getting your retaliation in first?

My apolgies.

I just saw it as a ridiculous question with a degree of prejudice.

I have illiterate clients who are developers and multi millionaires.

I have met many lierate idiots.

GM228

Fred Swanson wrote: »

Just curious. Is there any law that prohibits anyone who cannot read from driving?

No.

GM228

http://www.dyslexia.ie/information/adults-and-the-workplace/driving-test/

However, if you have a disability such as dyslexia or are unable to read or write, you can apply for special arrangements to take your test. You will need to provide a letter of evidence from a professional who can verify your literacy difficulties and need for assistance during the test. The arrangements available include extra time, and in certain cases a specialist reader can be provided. The specialist reader must read the test items out verbatim. However, if an item of vocabulary is unknown, a direct synonym may be provided to enable the Candidate to access the question. A lexicon of such terms was agreed with Prometrics (the company who operate the Driver Theory Test).  Synonyms can only be provided for words in the agreed lexicon.  Knowledge of some technical terms is deemed necessary, so an alternative word cannot be provided in all cases

And.......

http://www.mayonews.ie/news/10418-man-passes-driver-theory-test-despite-illiteracy

Fred Swanson

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Lmklad

Legal and medical are the only grounds for refusal or revoking a licence. Tell him to pop into his local NDLS office for a chat. You can guarantee he won't be the first illiterate person they've helped out.

CiniO

cros13 wrote: »

Except many temporary or rare signs, for example warning that the bridge ahead has been washed away need to be read.

In theory all important messages should be displayed in form of traffic signs, where written messages are only for information purposes not crucial to safety.
If that wasn't the case then no one who can't speed English or Irish could drive here.


And we all know there's plenty of drivers on Irish roads who don't speed neither English nor Irish and do well.

Being illiterate and not understanding written English is pretty much same thing when it comes to understanding sings/messages written in English.

Marcusm

Up until 2014, you could do the UK theory test in any one of 20 languages and have an interpreter to accompany you to translate the examiner's instructions. Most people who are technically illiterate are functionally literate, i.e. they can cope with common ordinary circumstances like shops, road signs etc.

Fred Swanson

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Lmklad

I've come across a handful in my time. It's nothing to be embarrassed about, especially for an older person. Sure you might be free to go with him, or like I said the staff will definitely help him.

coylemj

It's often covered up by the old 'I forgot my glasses' excuse.

There is another cohort of people in this category and they are the people who are too proud to wear reading glasses, even though they have arrived at the stage in life when they need them. In a way this renders them functionally illiterate. For example, there is a woman in my local social welfare office and even when you present her with your public services card, she refuses to look at it and insists that you say your name. Clearly, working in the civil service means that she can't be illiterate but dealing with her is an experience as she has to hold documents at arm's length to read them.

Sleeper12

Plenty of people are dyslexic too. I think it's horrible to pull people up on spelling mistakes here on boards.ie just because you are loosing a debate

Victor

coylemj wrote: »

It's often covered up by the old 'I forgot my glasses' excuse.

This might not be the best excuse when dealing with driving issues, seeing as an medical eyesight report is probably needed at age 70.

Del2005

coylemj wrote: »

It's often covered up by the old 'I forgot my glasses' excuse.

There is another cohort of people in this category and they are the people who are too proud to wear reading glasses, even though they have arrived at the stage in life when they need them. In a way this renders them functionally illiterate. For example, there is a woman in my local social welfare office and even when you present her with your public services card, she refuses to look at it and insists that you say your name. Clearly, working in the civil service means that she can't be illiterate but dealing with her is an experience as she has to hold documents at arm's length to read them.

I don't mind the people not being able to read without glasses and being to proud to wear them, but I do detest the ignorant feckers who are proud and drive without them.