Imagine going to a driving center to apply for your CDL license. You sit down and are asked the first question: “In what language do you want to take the test in?” You are then faced with 32 options including Punjabi, Hmong, Tongan, and Croatian. Where’s the English button?
This scenario is not in your imagination, especially if you live in California, which offers 32 different languages to take your commercial driver’s test in. But California is not alone. There are several other states that offer over a dozen language options!
Many of these states believe that not allowing these options are prone to discriminatory lawsuits and that “there are no studies that suggest English proficiency makes better drivers,” an article in Land Line Magazine notes.
Then there are other states pushing for the remittance of non-English language options for driving tests. Pennsylvania is one of them.
The state of PA already has one bill in place, HB 1180, that limits testing to only the English and Spanish languages. Now, another bill has been submitted to the House Transportation Committee which would limit testing to strictly English.
Tennessee, who provides four language options, is looking to do the same but will wait to be considered until “lawmakers return to the capital” next year, the article explains.
About six states have already done without additional language preferences for CDL drivers, believing that those who “drive on roads without a command of the English language” pose as a safety risk (http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Jul11/070411/070711-05.shtml).
Road Scholar Transport is an advocate for safety, which is why we only hire the most qualified drivers, conducting background and drug tests on all new hires. If you are a safe driver or owner-operator, we want to hear from you. Apply today at http://www.roadscholar.com/employment.php.
Should Pennsylvania (or any state for that matter) require CDL Applicants to Take Their Driving Tests in English-Only? What do you think?
