Safer Streets Ahead: Florida Now Mandates English for License Tests

As my late father was fond of saying in his typical laconic style, common sense isn't. But occasionally a little wit shines forth, even from government. In an example of this, the great state of Florida is now administering driver's license tests in English and only in English, from learner's permits on up.

Someone clearly had a sudden rush of brains to the head.

Florida has officially changed how new drivers are tested statewide, introducing a rule that affects every applicant seeking a driver license or learner permit.
Beginning Friday, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles started administering all driver license exams exclusively in English.
The change applies to written knowledge tests, road skills exams, and any oral examinations required during the licensing process.
State officials confirmed that exams will no longer be offered in other languages and interpreter services are no longer permitted during testing.
The updated policy applies to both non commercial and commercial driver license applicants.

This wasn't always the case; the old rules allowed the test in Spanish as well. Granted, there are plenty of Spanish-speakers in Florida, including a leavening of Cuban refugees and their descendants. But we are and remain an English-speaking country, and all the road signs are in English. That's as it should be - and now, so is the license test.

In the past, Florida allowed many non commercial exams to be taken in multiple languages, while some commercial exams were available in English and Spanish.
Under the new rule, all testing formats must be completed in English regardless of license type.
According to the department, the goal of the change is to ensure consistency across the state and confirm that licensed drivers can read and understand traffic laws, road signs, and safety instructions written in English.

In an atypically taciturn reply to this, I can only say "Good." We have, in recent months, seen too many high-profile cases wherein a lack of English proficiency in a driver has led to disaster.

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Of course, the new requirement only applies to new applications. Existing licensees aren't affected, and it's not clear about renewals, but in most places, a renewal of an active license, if done within a certain period of time, doesn't require a test. This seems an oversight, but perhaps its the best deal that could be reached.

Now, this is certain to draw shouts of "Racism!" from the left, probably at such a volume as to be audible in the Tau Ceti system. That, too, is fine. We're an English-speaking country. Our road signs are all in English, and I do not care to contemplate the cost of re-signing all our highways and byways to include Spanish - and we can be sure that the demands for catering to non-English-speaking drivers would not stop there. No, they would next demand Chinese, then Arabic, then Farsi, then who knows? Klingon? That way lies madness.

This answer is the proper one: If you want to drive legally, learn to speak and read English. Otherwise, you are a pedestrian, or you can buy a bicycle.

Editor's Note: This article was updated post-publication for clarity.

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