My father, a deaf individual, has always had a debilitating fear of interacting with police officers and the high-stakes situation of being pulled over. His condition considerably compounds the stress of these encounters, leading to real danger of miscommunication. He is not alone.

There are approximately 48 million people in the United States who report some degree of hearing loss (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 2021). For them, routine traffic stops can turn into overwhelming and scary experiences due to their inability to fully comprehend verbal instructions.

If a system was implemented that reads license plates to notify police officers about deaf vehicle owners, this would dramatically reduce the risk of misunderstandings during police interactions. It will also provide much-needed peace of mind, assurance, and safety for deaf drivers like my father.

Our demand is simple, yet profound. We are requesting that regulatory authorities make it mandatory to link information regarding a driver's hearing ability to their license plates, allowing for an immediate and clear identification by law enforcement officers. This initiative will contribute to safer, more inclusive policing practices that respect the rights and freedoms of the deaf community.

Now is the time to act — change starts with you. Please, sign this petition to ensure that our roads are safe for everyone, regardless of their hearing ability.