Amid a growing problem of non-English speaking drivers involved in car accidents, several U.S. state legislatures are eyeballing bills to require all tests for driver’s licenses to be given in English.
Y’all, I think a bit of common sense may have fallen out of the sky, landed on someone’s face and started to wiggle!
Currently, U.S. driving tests are offered in Spanish, French and German, with or without an interpreter present. Given our cater-to-everybody attitude, I’m surprised they don’t offer them in Braille. Sure the Guide Dog can ride in the car–just make sure he wears a seat belt.
Now before somebody jumps in my face with the Great American Melting Pot speech, let me explain a thing or two. Ugly Ass Opinion doesn’t care where people come from or what language they speak in their homes. In order to drive in the United States, they need to possess at least a basic proficiency of both spoken and written English.
Oh yes they do.
I don’t care if a person has memorized all the standard road signs or not. What if they get lost? What if there’s a detour, or a traffic re-route sign they can’t read? Even worse–what if there’s an accident?
At the scene of a collision, nobody should have to guess whether an agitated person is complaining he’ll be late for work or announcing his passenger’s having a heart attack. If drivers can’t communicate with emergency personnel or comprehend instructions given by police officers, they shouldn’t be holding car keys.
And as the Great Gump says, “That’s all I have to say about that.”
This article is an original post from www.UglyAssOpinion.com© Kelly L. Trainor 2008 All Rights Reserved
March 30, 2008 at 4:39 pm |
Well, it’s my opinion that anyone who is going to be given a job in which they speak with an English speaking consumer base (especially over the phone) should be required to speak not only fluent English, but this country’s language without such a thick accent you could cut it with a knife! I just love the calls I get from 2 different companies I have to deal with on a regular basis, when the person on the other end of the line is speaking English, but I don’t recognize it! :S
March 30, 2008 at 4:58 pm |
That can be very frustrating. Whenever I call a computer No-Help-Whatsoever desk, I seem to get techs I have difficulty understanding. And I think the frustration is a two-way street. I’ve had techs ask me to repeat myself several times as well.