The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MPNI) does not have data on how many drivers in Montenegro have the status of persons with disabilities (OSI), and, as they told "Vijesti", this could only be changed after the digitalization of the system relating to records, including the work of driving schools.
The association of people with disabilities is not surprised that the competent department does not have data on people with disabilities who are taking the driving test, nor does it collect general data on candidates.
"The impression is that the relevant ministry does not even understand the importance of the existence of such data, or more specifically the importance of exercising the rights of persons with disabilities in the area of active participation in traffic," said the Association of Disabled Youth of Montenegro (UMHCG).
The NGO "Equivalent" said that this "clearly indicates long-standing institutional neglect and the absence of any strategic approach in planning policies that would enable persons with disabilities equal access to driver training and taking the exam."
"The lack of records not only prevents understanding the real needs of people with disabilities, but also directly affects the inability to plan long-term support measures - such as the procurement and distribution of adapted vehicles, training of instructors, changes to regulations, subsidizing costs, and introducing more flexible procedures. Without this data, the state cannot know how many people with disabilities are interested in taking the exam, analyze the obstacles that prevent them from doing so, or develop systemic support for a larger number of candidates in the future," they told "Vijesti" and added that collecting such data "should be the first step towards creating an inclusive strategy in this area."
In Montenegro, as recently told "Vijesti" by the Ministry of National Education and Research, there are 66 registered driving schools. Only one, according to the department that runs it Anđela Jakšić Stojanović, and this is also evidenced by associations of people with disabilities, there is also an adapted vehicle that is equipped with controls.
Candidates, people with disabilities, say the association, most often adapt their vehicles for training purposes themselves. But, as they add, they are often not even informed about the procedures for organizing and conducting the driving test.
"Our users' experiences generally indicate serious obstacles in accessing driving training and taking the exam. The most common challenges include the complete lack of available, adapted vehicles with manual controls in almost all cities, the need for candidates to purchase and equip their own cars, often abroad, complicated procedures, and the often discouraging attitude of medical commissions. Most of our users who have a driver's license today took the exam in their own private vehicles, long before the only known vehicle adapted for people with disabilities was purchased, which is used in a driving school in Podgorica," said the NGO "Equivalent".
This, they add, "means they had to go through additional costs and organizational barriers that the average candidate does not have."
Similar statements are made by the University of Montenegro.
"Many service users do not have any information at all about the possibility of taking a driving test for people with disabilities in a vehicle that has been adapted with special equipment for taking a driving test, although a significant number of participants who took the driving test, as we have been informed, had positive experiences. Challenges are present in all regions of Montenegro because, unfortunately, only in Podgorica there is one driving school (AS TEAM), which organizes taking a driving test for people with disabilities in a vehicle equipped with controls. Therefore, primarily users of wheelchairs, other aids, as well as all other people with physical impairments are forced to adapt their own vehicle at their own expense, in which they would later be trained to take a driving test," said the UMHCG.
According to Article 230 of the Law on Road Traffic Safety, practical training of a candidate driver with a disability may be carried out on a vehicle manufactured or modified according to his needs.
In addition, the NGO reminds us, the vehicle must be technically sound and have a service or auxiliary brake available to the driving instructor.
"Which creates additional costs for candidates who are forced to adapt their own vehicle," they add.
According to the UMHCG, many users are not familiar with the provisions of the Law on Road Traffic Safety, the procedures regulated by the Rulebook on the detailed organization and implementation of the driving test, and the Driver Education Program.
For this reason, this NGO has developed a Guideline in this area, which is available in an accessible format on the DisabilityInfo.me Portal.
MEDICAL BELIEF “COLORED” BY PERSONAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS DISABILITY
People with disabilities, as stated by the UMHCG, also point out that when obtaining or renewing a driver's license, they do not receive a positive opinion from a doctor about driving a vehicle:
"It is highly debatable and questionable on what basis a decision is made as to whether someone is capable of driving a vehicle or not. It is demotivating and discouraging that negative opinions, i.e. the failure to issue a medical certificate for driving a vehicle, are based on personal convictions and attitudes towards disability. The rhetorical question is whether a person without a disability, who caused an accident with fatal consequences while driving a vehicle, is capable of continuing to drive a vehicle, because there is a risk that they will do the same thing again, if the accident was caused by a human factor. However, it seems that this practice is applied exclusively to persons with disabilities, without being based on detailed and sufficient assessments beforehand."
LEAVE PAPER TESTS
The theoretical part of the driving test is currently conducted using paper-based tests. The Ministry of Education said that they have initiated the digitalization of driving schools, which, among other things, includes the introduction of electronic driving test taking.
"This way, it is easier for people whose hand mobility is reduced, but who have a medical certificate that they can take the driving test and operate a vehicle, to take the driving test," the department said.
The UMHCG says that the exam must be adapted to all persons with disabilities, including persons with reduced mobility.
"It would be desirable for the tests to be available in electronic form and for people with disabilities to be able to choose the method that suits them best for taking the exam. We also believe that taking the theoretical part of the program should not be organized only in electronic form, because certain people are not sufficiently computer literate, which would very likely lead to additional barriers in training."
The NGO "Equivalent" has a similar position:
"We welcome the announcement of the digitalization of tests, as electronic tests would significantly facilitate the process of taking the theoretical part of the exam for many people with disabilities, especially those with reduced hand motor skills, for whom writing on paper is a physical challenge. Given that it is not possible to foresee all situations that correspond to the different types of disabilities that can take the theoretical part of the driving test, it would be desirable to have tests in paper form as an option for taking the exam."
The education department believes that taking the theoretical part of the driving test is not demanding, because the questions are not answered by writing the answer, but by entering a sign in the marked box.
DIGITALIZATION CONTRIBUTES TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE
When asked in general about how digitalization in this area contributes to the quality of life of people with disabilities, the NGO "Equivalent" said that it can significantly improve the quality of life of people with reduced mobility.
"Especially when it comes to the availability of information, procedures and the process of taking the driving test itself. For candidates with reduced mobility of the hands and body, every additional physical trip to multiple locations, waiting in lines, filling out forms and testing in a way that requires manual precision - represents an additional effort or barrier."
The accessibility of information is also emphasized by the UMHCG, but they explain that digitalization also contributes to the quality of life of people with disabilities in other ways:
"Special controls in the vehicle, for example, contribute to increasing the safety of people with disabilities in traffic, electronic forms of tests contribute to the efficiency of training, in-vehicle navigation systems contribute to easier and better resourcefulness, etc. The above means that there are numerous benefits from digitalization in this area, and that they cannot in any way have a negative impact on improvements in this area."
Adapted vehicles are a must and driving school
Inadequate legal regulations are the reason why driving schools, except for one, do not have vehicles adapted for training people with disabilities, according to the UMHCG.
"There is no binding legal provision for driving schools in terms of having a number of vehicles equipped for the disabled... A certain percentage of accessible driving school vehicles should be a condition for obtaining a license, and this should be prescribed by law, which is unfortunately not the case in practice."
In this regard, the UMHCG submitted comments and suggestions to the Working Group for the Drafting of the Proposal on Amendments to the Law on Road Traffic Safety.
"We are aware that the 'AS TEAM' Driving School will probably sell the vehicle with the controls installed in it in the near future, due to the obsolescence of the vehicle, so that soon there will be none," they said.
The founder and owner of the driving school, Nikola Dragaš, confirmed to "Vijesti" that he plans to sell the vehicle, which has trained several disabled people over the past four years. The reason, he said, is that the vehicle no longer meets the prescribed requirements due to its age.
The UMHCG said that this "may negatively affect all persons with disabilities who have planned or plan to be active drivers in the coming period."
The NGO "Equivalent" said that they understand that the purchase and maintenance of an adapted vehicle for driving schools is a large investment, but they added that it cannot be their exclusive responsibility, but also the responsibility of the state.
"We have spoken with several driving school owners and instructors who express their willingness to work with people with disabilities, but they lack equipment and support. We believe that the state, through subsidies and support programs, could provide several vehicles that would be used regionally or through a rotation system among driving schools."
It's not just a driver's license, it's a feeling of freedom.
A driving test for a person with a disability is not just a formal license to drive a vehicle, it is a symbol and tool of independence, freedom and personal dignity, said the NGO "Equivalent".
"The ability to drive a vehicle for many PWDs means freedom from dependence on others for everyday activities; a significant reduction in feelings of isolation and marginalization, especially in environments where public transport is inaccessible or inadequate; increased employability and competitiveness in the labor market, as mobility often determines employment opportunities, but also psychological stability, a sense of personal usefulness and equality."
The UMHCG also points out that in Montenegro, in most municipalities, there is no accessible urban and intercity transport, so owning your own vehicle and driving it independently provides people with disabilities with the opportunity for greater mobility and independent functioning in society.
The lack of records not only prevents understanding the real needs of people with disabilities, but also directly affects the inability to plan long-term support measures - such as the procurement and distribution of adapted vehicles, training of instructors, changes to regulations, cost subsidies and the introduction of more flexible procedures.
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