The DMV is notoriously unpleasant, but Florida just found a way to make getting your driver’s license a little more complicated.
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Beginning Friday, February 6, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) announced that all driver license exams will be available in English only. The change applies to commercial and non-commercial licenses and removes the test that was previously offered in languages such as Spanish and Haitian Creole, as well as the option to use an interpreter.
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As you might expect, the new law has sparked a lot of debate online. The main argument among proponents is that English-only testing will improve road safety because road signs are in English.
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But for many people, this rationalization doesn’t solve the problem. One Reddit user retorted, “Guess what – safety-critical road signs are identified by shape, color and design… rather than text. This way they can be interpreted quickly and clearly, including by people with disabilities or who speak a different language.”
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Many opponents of the law have called it xenophobic and racist, especially given Florida’s diverse demographics. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 28.7% of the state’s population identifies as Hispanic or Latino, and 30.1% of households report speaking a language other than English at home — most commonly Spanish, with 22% speaking Spanish.
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Florida Rep. Lois Frankel wrote on
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Many also highlighted how out of place the English-only order felt in a country with no official language…
…especially in a state whose literal name is derived from Spanish.
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“Leave this here,” one X user wrote alongside the screenshot, explaining that “Florida” comes from Spanish Floridameaning “the land of flowers”.
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“Just gratuitous racism,” one person wrote.
Another added: “30% of households in Florida do not speak English as their primary language. Cruelty is the point.”
People online also warned of possible broader political ramifications, pointing to Florida’s voter ID requirements and the law’s potential impact on the voting rights of many Floridians.
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Some believe the change could have the opposite effect, making roads less safe by encouraging more unlicensed driving.
In short, these three words basically sum up how people feel:
@TheGirlUnsure / @PopCrave / Chouaaib Babaoui by Alamy / Monika Wisniewska by Alamy / by Twitter: @TheGirlUnsure
What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
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