Feds want tighten laws that require truckers to speak English
By sedel1027
@sedel1027 (17846)
Cupertino, California
July 17, 2008 5:21pm CST
First off, I didn't know there was a law for this, but I am glad there is.
Right now the law is: anyone with a commercial drivers license speak English well enough to talk with police.
To me that seems like a judgment call more than anything else.
Here is the proposed change:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has proposed rules requiring anyone applying for a commercial drivers license to speak English during their road test and vehicle inspection. The agency wants to change its rules to eliminate the use of interpreters, and congressional approval isn't required.
In my opinion, how can you drive and not be able to complete the entire test and any inspection in English. I believe that this is a good change that should happen soon.
5 responses
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
17 Jul 08
I agree with you entirely. But why does it stop at truckers? Here in Miami, the vast majority of the population is hispanic, and many, if not most, don't speak English. They're driving without understanding the signs or the people with whom they get into accidents. I really laugh when I can tell by the body language that the driver of the car next to me at the light is asking for directions, and I don't understand a word. If I trusted my interpretation of the body language, he or she wouldn't understand my answer. Miami's one of the worst places to drive because of the overcrowding and the language barriers. I think people need to have sufficient English before they can have a license. Instead, they can take the test in Spanish, Hatian Creole, or Vietnamese. It doesn't make sense to me.
@sherlock27 (913)
• United States
18 Jul 08
That's good for America. It's time this country wakes up and takes our country back.
@falconjetter (161)
• United States
17 Jul 08
I completely agree with you. If you are licensed to drive a commercial vehicle you should be able to speak, read, and understand the English language. Sure, an interpreter is provided to help pass the test but what happens when you're on the road and faced with an emergency or pulled over by an officer, or even simpler, need to ask for directions? Odds are there won't be an interpreter nearby. I think if you are going to make your living in the United States you should take the time to learn to speak, read, and write the English language.
