Officials said the conditions for issuing a driver’s licence to a person with a disability are similar to the ones governing driver’s licenses for non-disabled people. Social Affairs Ministry
The ministries of Public Works and Transport; Health; and Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation met on Friday and discussed a prakas which will define the conditions to issue driver’s licences to people with disabilities.
General Department of Land Transport director Chhoun Von said: “We have agreed on the draft and will submit it to the management soon.”
Von said the conditions for issuing a driver’s licence to a person with a disability are similar to the ones governing driver’s licences for non-disabled people. People with disabilities must apply with relevant documents such as their original identity card.
“But the important thing is that we have to look at their physical state. If a person with a disability wants to get a driver’s licence, we need to decide what kind of vehicle he can drive,” he said.
According to the draft of the prakas, Von said if a person with a disability can drive normally, the transport ministry will allow them to take the driver’s licence examination.
The inter-ministerial declaration aims to promote the rights of people with disabilities in Cambodia. Von said the prakas will determine the conditions for issuing a driver’s licence to a person with a disability and will determine what type of vehicle they can drive.
Senior adviser to the Coalition for Road Safety Lim Sokchea said civil society organisations have been campaigning for the issuance of driver’s licences to disabled and illiterate people.
“Now, if the inter-ministerial committee has decided to issue driver’s licences to disabled and illiterate people, it would be a very good thing. Because countries in Asia and the world have always had such incentives,” Sokchea said.
She called on the transport ministry to set clear conditions for the use of vehicles by people with disabilities.
“I urge that all vehicles used by the disabled be recognised by the transport ministry in line with national standards.
“It’s not enough to just issue them a licence. We need to designate special vehicles for them and ask them to take the examination to get a driver’s licence,” she said.
