New rule to put more disabled drivers on road

Starting on April 1, people with disabled both legs will be able to become drivers. Zhang Haidi, Chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), has enrolled in a driver's course, and will be among the first batch of people with disabled both legs to get a driver's license in China.

Zhang Haidi, Chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation  (CDPF), has enrolled in a driver's course, and will be among the  first batch of people with disabled both legs to get a driver's  license in China.

In 2009, the Ministry of Public Security released the revised "Regulations and Rules for the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's License," which relax the driving restrictions for disabled people. Starting on April 1, five types of disabled people will be able to apply for a driver's license. According to sources, those with a disabled right leg, or even with disabled both legs, are now allowed to drive small, automatic transmission cars, which are specially designed for them (on a C5 driver's license). Before applying for the license, these applicants have to pass health tests first at Beijing Bo’ai Hospital, which is attached to the China Rehabilitation Research Center. According to the new rules for the driving lessons, which will take effect on April 1, there are a total of 86 lessons for the driving license C5 with 22 lessons for learning theory and 64 for practice driving skills. 　

Reporters learned that the law allowing the disabled to drive has been greeted with great enthusiasm from disabled people. Zhang Haidi, Chairman of CDPF, who has repeatedly proposed allowing the disabled to drive, said in her blog that it is a good message for disabled people. Additionally, reporters learned from the Beijing Oriental Fashion Automobile Driving School that Zhang has enrolled in the driving school and will start to learn driving on April 1. 　　

Reporters also learned that Beijing Fengshun Driving School and Beijing Oriental Fashion Automobile Driving School have opened training classes for disabled drivers. Up until now, a total of over 160 disabled people have enrolled in driving classes in Beijing.