Major report reveals public transport inaccessible to millions of deaf people

A first-of-its-kind report has warned that people who are deaf or have hearing loss are being excluded from public transport across the UK – with millions facing stress, anxiety and a loss of independence. Clear Signals, a report from RNID – the national charity supporting the 18 million people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus – reveals that shockingly, over three quarters (77 per cent) of people with hearing loss who use public transport experience accessibility barriers – with consequences that go far beyond the journey itself. You can read the full report here.According to RNID, people with hearing loss in the UK are being let down by a transport system failing to meet their needs, and face significant challenges across services such as trains, buses, metro systems, domestic ferries and trams. The report highlights how barriers – including the inability for people with hearing loss to access critical real-time information and a lack of deaf awareness from staff – can make even every-day journeys feel impossible, requiring immense emotional effort and planning.As a result, people with hearing loss describe journeys by public transport as stressful, overwhelming and chaotic. Others said they are forced to restrict or adapt their travel behaviour, and in some cases, stop using public transport altogether – affecting people’s ability to work, socialise and travel independently.In the report, 41 per cent of passengers who are deaf or have hearing loss said barriers limit their independence whilst over a third (35 per cent) of those surveyed said they avoid using public transport whenever possible.76 per cent of people who are deaf or have hearing loss and 81 per cent of BSL (British Sign Language) users said that inaccessible information makes travelling stressful, whilst nearly four in five (79 per cent) said they feel the need to stay ‘on alert’ during journeys.In anticipation of barriers, 68 per cent of people over-prepare and plan aheadfor journeys, and 83 per cent say they build in extra timeto make their journeys because they cannot rely on information being accessible to them when travelling.Produced with funding from the Motability Foundation, RNID’s report is the first-ever published research focusing specifically on the real-life experiences of people who are deaf or have hearing loss on public transport in the UK.The charity is calling for coordinated action by governments, regulators, transport authorities, operators and manufacturers to implement its recommendations, including: To read more, visit rnid.org.uk/clearsignalsreport