English language proficiency test

General Discussion
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As most of you already know, a deadly mistake took place on August 12 that took the lives of 3 riding in a minivan when a trucker oddly and dangerously made an illegal U-Turn.

By following up with this exceptionally sad incident, I learned there is such a thing called English language proficiency test mandated for all CDL holders.

I’m not sure if this test is also mandated for standard driver license holders. Does anyone know?

In cause you have missed it, here is the news article to the accident. Illegal immigrant driver in deadly Florida crash failed English, road sign tests | Fox News

Thanks for stopping by :+1:

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This is all I’ll say . . .

I feel bad for those fire department guys pictured, who saw the 3 dead people in the minivan

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If something is important, you make the time ….

To take the next exit if you find you are going the wrong way on a highway.

To turn left off a local road into a side street or parking lot from where you can exit such, and safely go the way you came, and get back on track.

Whether you are driving a tractor-trailer or a sub-compact.

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Neither state I have lived in had an English language requirement for a drivers license but you still had to pass a test that included reading traffic signs.

But a CDL is different. Starting June 2025;

Commercial drivers in the U.S. must demonstrate English language proficiency to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). This requirement ensures that drivers can communicate effectively, understand traffic signs, and respond to official inquiries.

This is from AI

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Another very sad situation, I feel so sorry for the family’s who needlessly lost their loved ones over a very bad choice, this could have been prevented…

His CDL was obtained in California.

That is all I can/will say about this…

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@davesmopar

Sounds like YOU want to politicize this

I chose to not go that route

It’s too bad you couldn’t have made the same choice

I respect you, but I don’t always agree with you

Such is life

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In New York the written test is available in 20 languages. No English proficiency test is given. There is no indication of special accommodations for other languages during the road test, assume communication is in English only.

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I’ve never heard of the English proficiency language test until I followed this horrible accident. I know there is a written test requirement when applying for a drivers license ( I did mine ) but I’ve never heard anyone saying the police can pull you over and demand an English proficiency language test.

I speak English ( though it’s not my native tongue ). Jamaica is an English speaking country and the school only teach English. However, the majority of Jamaicans also speak Jamaican patois, which I consider my native tongue.

I certainly wouldn’t fail the English proficiency language test but let’s say a cop randomly asks me to explain a road sign which I have never seen before or have forgotten due to such sign not being used actively in my daily life. Then that’s when I believe I’d be in trouble, and a lot of people would be, too.

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The law went into effect 2 months ago is for new CDL applicants. Therer is no plan to test all CDL holders, however law enforcement can test drivers whi they have stopped and their licenses can be suspended.

What about all the Canadian and Mexican tractor trailer drivers that enter this country. They don’t have to take our CDL test. I have seen many Sikk’s out of Toironto and some French Canadians I would not call proficient in English. As for pulling a tractor Trailer or worse yet a tractor with more than on trailer into an unknown parking lot or side street, that is a very bad Idea. You may not be able to get back out without police help which may come with a ticket.

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Spelling: Sikh.

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Here is Virginia I was disappointed to learn that with the exception of the CDL HAZMAT knowledge exam (available only in English), the Driver, CDL and Motorcycle knowledge exams are available in the following languages:

English; American Sign Language (ASL); Amharic (Ethiopian); Arabic; Chinese/Mandarin; Chinese/Mandarin (Traditional); Dari; Farsi; French; German; Haitian Creole; Italian; Japanese; Korean; Kurdish; Mongolian; Nepali; Pashto; Punjabi; Russian; Spanish; Thai; Twi (Akan); Turkish; Urdu, and Vietnamese.

The Virginal Driver’s Written Exam is in Two- Parts, in the First-Part: there are 10 road sign questions and all ten questions must be answered correctly. In Part Two: there are 30 general knowledge questions and they must correctly answer 24 questions to pass.

For the Road Test, if they do not speak English, they may bring a translator or an American Sign Language interpreter with them for the road skills test. The candidate must provide this person, DMV will not provide a translator/interpreter. A translator can be a family member, friend, or community member who is over the age of 18 and holds an unexpired U.S. driver’s license.

The translator will ride in the back seat and translate instructions given well in advance of each maneuver. If they are in need of American Sign Language interpretation assistance, the interpreter will sit in the front seat to communicate instructions given well in advance of each maneuver.

So, in response to other postings concerning handicapped drivers. Virginia accolades hearing-impaired drivers…

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Has NOTHING to do what state your CDL is issued from. All states must meet the FEDERAL CDL licensing requirements.

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OK, he had a California Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) (as reported…), but has anyone address how he got it, proof of identity, proof of residency with residency requirements, 10-year background checks, written tests, etc… are required to be performed prior to being issued a CDL… Seems too farfetched for an illegal immigrant without some nefarious actions on the part of the California DMV employees…

Moreover, has anyone addressed if his CDL was for the vehicle he was driving. Remember most of the reporting is done by Pundits, Hacks, and Wonks who get paid by the word and reviewed by editors whose only goal is to be the first to report it…

And then there are the businesses that have numerous drivers on call, but perhaps not all are licensed for all the vehicles that the business operates. In a crunch, the fleet manager may call on a driver for a job the driver is not qualified to do, but he takes it anyway rather than risk losing his job…

The Three Classes of CDL are A, B, and C…

Class A is for operating a combination vehicle with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more–like a Tractor Trailer…

Class B, for operating a single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more–like a large Truck on a single Frame…

Class C, for vehicles not meeting Class A or B criteria but designed to transport 16 or more occupants or hazardous materials–like a Bus…

And then there are Certifications… Like “H” for Hazardous Materials (also require a background check…); “N” for Tank Vehicles; “P” for Passengers; “S” for School Buses; “T” for Double/Triple Trailers; and “X” a combined endorsement for tank vehicles with hazardous materials.

Obviously, Inquiring Minds Want to Know…

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This type of accident is not that rare, the only reason it received extensive coverage is because of the current political climate.

“Accolade”: Granted as a special honor or as an acknowledgment of merit😀.

But we know what you meant.

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I personally know someone who cannot read and did not take their written test when applying for a standard drivers license. I won’t go deep into details here but things like these happen all the time.

In fact, this practice has been happening before you and I were born. One only needs to know the right people to bypass security.

The truck driver in question is a professional trucker. He has been driving very huge trucks for years ( possibly without a CDL in other countries ).

He made a mistake ( a costly one ) behind the wheels. I suspect he forgot a moment that he wasn’t driving on Indian roads when he made that U-TURN.

Most truck drivers and ordinary drivers in Jamaica cannot read and their skills are superb behind the wheels.

Yes, this trucker broke the law and rules in the United States and his mistake behind the wheels betrayed him. I do not think he is a bad driver or a bad person as I know these types of men out there trying their best to survive in a world already too tough for them.

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“Accommodates… “ darn Spellcheck… L :joy: L . . .

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Oh, I wish the web site also offered a Thumbs Down for a posting…

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Why would you want to thumb down my comment? Because I stated that people who can’t read can be very good drivers ? Or is it because I agreed with you that knowing the right people can help bypass security ? Or is it because you think people running away from their countries to come here are bad people ? Or is it because I said the trucker is a professional driver, and he is ?

Whatever the reason is, thumbing down a comment stating facts is foolish.

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They might be superbly-skilled drivers, but being able to read road signs–including the electronic ones with varying and frequently-unique messages–can be vitally important in terms of accident prevention.

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I agree.

Someone here in the USA ( he and his wife ) can’t read. I asked them both how do they comply with the rules on the road when they can’t read?

The wife said she observes how people drive here for a good while before she went for a license. The husband had the same explanation.

The wife and her husband totally depend on a GPS for direction. Someone in their family registered places on the GPS and told them what the registered places mean.

For example: home, Walmart, target, work, Etc.

They’re driving in the USA now for over a decade with zero accident.