For the first time in nearly two decades, Floridians seeking a driver’s license will be required to pass the state’s exams entirely in English — a move that came in response to a fatal crash involving an illegal immigrant who failed a test 10 times prior to the accident.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles announced the English-only policy last week. The rule went into effect Friday and is aimed at “promoting clear communication, understanding of traffic laws, and responsible driving behavior.”
The move was prompted by a deadly crash last summer involving Hardjiner Singh, an illegal immigrant who had obtained a commercial driver’s license in California, authorities said.
Singh attempted an illegal U-turn with his tractor-trailer, triggering a crash that killed three people, according to officials.
State authorities later determined that Singh received his California license despite failing an English proficiency test.
The incident sparked backlash from public officials and renewed scrutiny of language requirements for commercial drivers.
“Good reform by (Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles) to require driver exams be conducted only in English,” Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X last week.
“Need to be able to read the road signs!”
The policy also drew criticism from Democrats.
Nikki Fried, the former state agriculture commissioner and current chair of the Florida Democratic Party, condemned the change.
“In one of the most multilingual states in the country, Florida is going to implement driver’s license exams exclusively in English,” Fried wrote Jan. 30 on X.
“This is not about safety, this is about racism.”
Authorities said Singh entered the United States illegally in 2018 and was living in California at the time of the crash.
Records showed he failed the CDL knowledge exam 10 times in Washington state over a two-month period and twice failed the air brakes exam before ultimately being licensed.
Singh was arrested days after the crash in Stockton, Calif., extradited to Florida and charged with three counts of vehicular homicide and three counts of manslaughter.
He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond in the St. Lucie County Jail.