In the U.S., many truck drivers and other commercial drivers could face stricter rules that would affect their capacity to work. The government is preparing a new federal measure that focuses on something that has been related to driving: English proficiency. Even though this might seem strange, authorities believe that understanding English is fundamental for road safety. So, let’s find out more about this measure.
Importance of understanding English for driving
Driving a vehicle is more than knowing how to control the vehicle, it’s also paying attention to what’s around you. In the U.S., every traffic sign, warning, alert, and construction notice are written in English. So, if a driver doesn’t understand the language, it could have serious issues, like:
- Misinterpret where they should go.
- Miss important hazard warnings.
- Be unaware of sudden changes or dangers on the road.
For commercial drivers (those spending hours and hours on the road and travelling thousands of miles) this is even more important because they share the road with thousands of people everyday, so reading and understanding the signs could avoid many accidents. What’s more, understanding English is important in emergency situations such as: communicate with law enforcement, report an accident, or explain a situation to other road users.
New rules and English proficiency tests for drivers
Even though the law said commercial drivers must understand English, since 2016 the consequences for not meeting these requirements were not very strong. However, that is now changing because drivers will have to do a compulsory English proficiency test that includes two parts:
- Basic conversation with an officer: the driver must respond to simple questions related to road safety.
- Identification of traffic signs: the officer will show the driver traffic signs taken from the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the driver must explain what they mean.
To pass the test, the driver must pass both parts. In case this doesn’t happen, the penalties are much more serious than before.
How these rules will affect truck drivers
For truck drivers these new rules may have a serious impact because if a truck driver doesn’t pass the test the person is immediately placed ‘’out of service’’. This means:
- Not allowed to legally operate a commercial vehicle.
- Unable to work until they meet the English requirement.
This can affect their salary, their work stability, and, in many cases, the overall operations of the company they work for. This is why companies are encouraged to help their truck drivers by:
- Teaching basic English.
- Reviewing English requirements during hiring.
- Explaining the test so drivers know what to expect.
- Allowing drivers to practice reading and recognizing road signs.
The main goal
We need to have in mind that commercial driving is evolving, especially in areas like vehicle sustainability. Since technology is improving, safety rules are also being updated and this new English requirement is part of that effort.
So, the main goal of this is not to punish drivers, but to protect drivers and everyone else on the road. By ensuring that drivers can read signs, understand warnings, and communicate during emergencies, the government hopes to reduce accidents and improve overall road safety. Do you think this new measure will be positive for everybody? Is it necessary to know English to drive a truck? We’ll see if this is a success or a failure.