Truck Accident Lawyers

Driver Requirements: English

Any individual that wants to be licensed to driver 18-wheelers must be able to speak at least a small degree of English. This requirement is meant to be a guarantee that any driver stopped will be able to converse with the weigh station staff or any officer that might happen to stop a driver.

Currently, drivers are only required to be able to speak enough while they are being stopped by police. Individuals against this requirement would note that there are a number of drivers on the road that do not speak English. While this is true, these people are not professional drivers.

Think of what could happen if a truck driver carrying hazardous cargo is involved in an accident and cannot tell the police or attending emergency personnel what is in the truck or what has just spilled. It is easy to see how this could cause a disaster.

There are new rules that would require drivers to take the written portion of their commercial driver’s license tests in a language others that English. This is only permissible in states that already allow the practice.

In addition to this requirement, the driver would have to be able to speak English to a degree during the road test. This level is high enough that the driver is able to respond to a roadside officer and be able to converse with that officer. Drivers are not required to be completely fluent in English. They merely need to be fluent in the portions of English that relate to driving a truck.

Contract a Truck Accident Lawyer

If you have been injured in an accident that involved an 18-wheeler, contact the truck accident lawyers of Williams Kherkher at 1-866-950-9000.