When you’re on the road, the last thing you want to see is flashing police lights behind you, pulling you over. If you’re a driver with hearing loss, a traffic stop can present a critical problem – if you have trouble understanding the officer’s orders, how do you bridge a communication gap quickly while demonstrating compliance? Remaining patient and composed can help you and the police navigate the situation, as can having an easily-accessible “visor card” that can alert the police to your disability.
What Is a Visor Card?
Visor cards attach to the backside of your front windshield’s sun visor. The front side of a visor card notifies the police of your hearing disability in clear, bold letters. This is what the officer will see first when your sun visor is flipped down. Usually, the card will outline instructions for the officer to help them communicate with you. In addition to cards for drivers with varying degrees of hearing impairment, there are also specific visor cards designed for deaf drivers. There are also communication cards designed specifically for police traffic stops that utilize symbol graphics that can be pointed at to clarify what an officer wants you to do and why you were pulled over.
To make sure your visor card is available when you need it, attach it to the backside of your visor with clips or rubber bands and leave it in place. Orient the card so it is readable when the visor is down. Visor cards are designed to be discreet during everyday driving, but easy to display without having to search in a glove compartment or underneath your seat.
Where to Get a Visor Card
Many states and organizations have visor cards and assistive communication cards available, free of charge, to deaf and hard of hearing drivers. Here in Missouri, the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing distributes visor cards via their website. Resources are available regardless of where you live, such as the visor cards available for download and print from The Center for Hearing Loss Help.
How to Use a Visor Card If You are Stopped
When you are stopped by a police officer remain calm. In general, the officer pulling you over will want to see your hands at all times. If you can’t hear police instructions, it is safest to remain in the car with your hands on your steering wheel at 10 and 2, until you have established communication with the police officer and can fully understand their instructions.
Here’s how you should proceed when you see police lights signaling you to pull over:
- Signal and safely pull over to the shoulder of the road. If it is dark, try to stop your car near a streetlamp or other light source to help you with lip reading.
- Bring your car to a full stop, as far as you can into the shoulder so the police officer has room to approach your vehicle in traffic. Put your car in park, roll down your front windows, and turn off your engine.
- Flip down your sun visor so your visor card is displayed. Swing the visor towards your open window so the card is immediately noticeable when the officer approaches your vehicle.
- Put your hands on top of your steering wheel and leave them there until you understand the police officer’s requests. If it is dark, turn on the interior light in your car before placing your hands on the steering wheel.
Do not reach into areas of the car to retrieve your license and information before you have a clear request from the officer that you understand. Police can misconstrue your actions as reaching for a weapon when they cannot see your hands. Make sure the officer notices your visor card. If you have a communication card let the officer know.
Visor cards can’t get you out of a speeding ticket, but they can make traffic stops safer and easier if you have a hearing disability. Visor cards help pre-empt police misunderstandings and can help facilitate clear communication, so if you are a driver with hearing impairment it’s smart to keep a card ready and attached to your sun visor and know how to use it if you are pulled over.
Hearing Wellness Solutions
Whether you’re on the way to the grocery store, or in the middle of a cross-country road trip, Hearing Wellness Solutions is happy to help you find the right path to healthy hearing. If you’ve noticed changes in your hearing, or have questions about hearing impairment drop us a line and set up an appointment today.