State lawmakers in Tennessee are exploring the possibility of requiring drivers to pass the state’s license test in English before receiving their full driver’s license.
Currently, applicants in Tennessee can take the exam in five languages: English, Spanish, Korean, German, and Japanese are all options.
Under the proposed bill, those who cannot pass the test in English could still take the exam in another language, but they would receive a restricted license valid for 18 months.
After that period, they would be required to retake and pass the exam in English in order to obtain a full driver’s license.
Safety on the Road?
Republican State Representative Kip Capley, who introduced House Bill 1708 (HB1708), emphasized that the measure is intended to ensure safety and clear communication on the road. All road signs, traffic signals and sidewalk markings are in English, forming the basis of the argument that drivers should be able to understand what is written on the roads.
Because of recent regulations in the state that extended the duration of the restricted license from 12 to 18 months, the list of permitted travel reasons has also been expanded to allow more freedom. Capley added that during the 18-month period, “you can go to church, you can go to the grocery store, you can do all the normal things you would normally do.”
Capley also argued that the state should not be responsible for helping applicants learn English, stating: “If you want something bad enough, you’re going to get it.”
The Potential Repercussions
Should this become law, and with Capley believing that driving is something to be earned rather than a right, concerns have been raised that requiring English-only testing could create additional barriers for non-native English speakers legally living in Tennessee who want to drive.
However, Democrat State Representative Justin Pearson suggested that the state could offer resources, including tutoring, to help applicants improve their English and successfully pass the test.
Not only from a driver’s license point of view, but Democratic lawmakers also argue that the measure could impact local businesses that rely on workers who speak other languages. Reportedly, in an initial letter from the Consul-General of Japan in Nashville, Watanabe Shinji, it was noted that Japanese investment in the state exceeds $21 billion, supporting around 60,000 jobs across 21 facilities.
The letter also stated that about 4,000 Japanese nationals currently live in Tennessee temporarily for work, arguing that the proposal could restrict basic freedoms and limit the functionality of driver’s licenses for those workers.
What Next?
The bill was passed by the House Transportation Committee by a 16-3 vote, meaning the proposed legislation will now head to the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee for further review towards enactment.
The subcommittee will examine how the proposal could affect state resources, licensing procedures and implementation costs before deciding whether it should advance further in the legislative process.
If approved at that stage, the bill could continue through additional steps in the Tennessee House before a final vote is taken on whether the measure should become law.
If embedded into law, Tennessee joins Florida in mandating that all driver’s license examinations be conducted exclusively in English.