Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) announced on Friday that the state’s driver’s license knowledge and skills tests will now only be administered in English and without an interpreter.
Newsweek reached out to the office of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Florida’s latest move aligns with heightened national scrutiny of language proficiency in transportation safety, following federal pressure on states to enforce English-language rules for commercial drivers.
The change comes as federal actions sideline thousands of commercial truck drivers for failing English proficiency requirements and after a high-profile fatal crash in Florida drew national attention.
What To Know
According to a news release, the change goes into effect starting February 6.
“To implement this change, FLHSMV has updated its driver license testing system statewide. Language translation services will no longer be permitted for knowledge or skills examinations, and any printed exams in languages other than English will be removed for use,” the release says in part.
The release also notes that previous knowledge exams in the state for most non-commercial driver’s license classifications were offered in several languages, while Spanish and English tests were available for Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) and Commercial Driver License (CDL) tests.
“Under the updated policy, all driver license knowledge and skills testing will be conducted in English,” the announcement added.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) previously warned California, Washington and New Mexico that they could lose millions in federal funds if they did not fully enforce English-language proficiency requirements for commercial truck drivers, citing a federal investigation into out-of-service decisions for violations.
“States don’t get to pick and choose which federal safety rules to follow. As we saw with the horrific Florida crash that killed three, when states fail to enforce the law, they put the driving public in danger. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are taking aggressive action to close these safety gaps, hold states accountable, and make sure every commercial driver on the road is qualified to operate a 40-ton vehicle,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in an August news release.
What People Are Saying
Duffy, on X in December: “We’ve now knocked 9,500 truck drivers out of service for failing to speak our national language — ENGLISH! This administration will always put you and your family’s safety first.”
FLHSMV, in part in the release on Friday: “FLHSMV remains committed to ensuring safe roadways for all Floridians and visitors by promoting clear communication, understanding of traffic laws, and responsible driving behavior.”
What Happens Next
The English-only testing policy takes effect statewide on February 6, with FLHSMV saying its systems are already updated.
