(WSVN) - Florida residents scrambled to take their driver’s license exams on the last day they could do so in a language other than English.
Starting Friday, the state’s driver’s license exams are changing to English only. The change is stressing non-native English speakers, like Jacksonville resident Ana Valdes.
“Anxiety and worried, because imagine not dominating English perfectly,” she said through a translator.
Miami-Dade Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez is one of the officials in charge of implementing the change.
“So if the state changes anything, we need to comply with that,” said Fernandez.
Fernandez said once the change is in effect, driving tests will be administered in English only and no translation services will be available to assist during the exam.
“When the instructor asking you for, you know, ‘make a left, make a right, continue, what do you see over there, one way,’ whatever, all of this going to be in English,” said Fernandez.
In the past, people who took the test were able to choose from a list of languages. Now, it’ll just be one.
“No more Spanish, no more Russian, no more Creole, no more Arabic, no more any other language; just English,” said Fernandez.
Fernandez wants to remind residents that his office will continue providing many other services, which will still offer translation services as usual.
“Don’t take this as something you can not do. I know our community can pass through this and we’re going to continue here to putting people first in Miami-Dade County,” said Fernandez.
The change is causing confusion among many license applicants.
“We aren’t going to be able to learn English from one day to the next,” said Valdes.
Anxiety is inevitably setting in. Valdes said she has been preparing for her driver’s license exam for months. She did not expect to be taking the test on Thursday.
But she quickly booked her appointment after seeing the state will only give license tests in English starting Friday.
“If they could give us a bit more time, it would be beneficial,” she said.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said in a press release:
“Florida takes a leading role in highway safety by requiring all driver license exams to be taken in English and without an interpreter.”
Not all Floridians oppose the policy change, though.
“I think it’s a good thing. I mean, we’re Americans, and Americans should have an English language for the test,” said Terry Caldwell.
“I think that’s awesome and it only makes sense, even though I’m Hispanic,” said Johnny Alvarez.
Some residents who took their exams in other languages also agreed, saying it’s important to understand English since all traffic signs will be in English.
“All the signs and everything is in English so people have to know,” said Benjamin Escudero, who took his exam in Spanish.
“I think it’s reasonable because we’re in a country where the main language is English,” said Harry Torres through a translator.
“The fact of the matter is if you can’t read the sign, you know, as far as the speed limit, where you can turn, you know, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera,” said Alvarez. “You shouldn’t be driving on the highway anyways.”
But others take issue with the state’s decision.
“I don’t think that’s fair. If, if people understand better in their in their native language, it’s no problem, as long as it’s the same test all the English readers get,” said a man.
“You know, assistant for them as well if they could not understand, like, you know, the harder words or a professional word for some reason [for] people [who], you know, just got here,” said a woman.
Fernandez reiterated that the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles offers numerous online resources, including practice tests and handbooks, to help people prepare for their exams. Those will also only be provided in English.
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