More disabled people will be able to drive in China, including those paralyzed from the waist down, thanks to revisions to driving license regulations that will take effect starting from April 1.

The newly revised "Regulations on Application and Use of Driver's Licenses" allows, for the first time, Chinese who are able to sit by themselves despite their paralyzed limbs to acquire a license for adapted vehicles.

"The new regulations means a lot to me since a car will be my new 'legs'," said Shen Ping, from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, who had driven for almost 30 years before both his legs were paralyzed in 1999 making him unqualified to drive under the old regulations.

Shen and over 60 others with limb problems started their 3-month training Tuesday, the first training course of its kind in Ningxia. They can get their license for an adapted vehicle after passing a test.

There are 28 million people with paralyzed limbs in China, and many are longing to drive but have been deprived of the right. Some have driven anyway, hoping to avoid being caught by the police.

Chairman of China's Association for People with Paralyzed Limbs Xu Fengjian estimates that China has at least hundreds of such "unauthorized drivers."

"If someone can sit by oneself, he or she can be a qualified driver, no matter whether they have legs or not," said Li Ning, chairman of a Ningxia association for people with paralyzed limbs.

The new regulation also permits hearing-impaired people to drive if they can hear adequately while with a hearing aid.

To get the license, applicants will undergo a health check at a designated medical institute to prove they are capable of driving. Successful applicants will undergo another check up if they want to renew their licenses three years later, according to the regulation.

"While allowing people with disabilities to drive, we also need to ensure the safety of both these new drivers and others on the road," said an officer with the Ministry of Public Security.

Traffic regulators will treat the disabled drivers the same as other drivers, said Zhang Xuezhong, who is in charge of vehicle management in Yinchuan City, the provincial capital.

The disabled drivers will have to drive vehicles that have been modified to enable them to drive safely. The vehicles will also be labeled to inform other drivers.

The revised regulation was passed by the Ministry of Public Security on Nov. 21, 2009 and issued on Dec. 7, 2009.