999 text to help deaf people

Deaf people will be able to send text messages to get in touch with police and call ambulances, fire engines and the coastguard as part of a national trial.

The trial is going ahead in the autumn and if successful could be put into practice by 2010. Guido Gybels, director of technology at the RNID, said: "We hope to create a solution so that people with hearing impairments are on an equal footing with the rest of society. It is not a perfect system, but it is better than having nothing."

Share this page