Published: May 28, 2009 06:32 pm      

Nixed — 05/30/09

Governor quickly halts plans for English-only driver’s tests

The Kentucky State Police’s decision to begin offering written driver’s tests only in English was nixed by Gov. Steve Beshear before it was ever implemented. The lack of proficiency in the English language should not be an impediment to obtaining a legal Kentucky driver’s license, particularly since traffic signs have the same symbols and are the same shape throughout the world.

Beshear said he was not aware of the plan to cease offering driver’s tests in 22 different languageS until the KSP announced Wednesday that it would offer the test only in English beginning this Monday. As soon as he learned of the proposal, Beshear put an end to it.

The proposal does not “reflect the values of this administration or the values that I think most Kentuckians share — as a state welcoming people to do business here,” Beshear said.

Like every other state, Kentucky attracts many visitors who plan either to live in the state for only a short time or have a need to drive while they improve their English. Some are highly skilled professionals — physicians, engineers, etc. — recruited from foreign countries by Ketucky companies who need their skills.

For its part, the KSP said it proposed the change in testing only to save money at a time when state revenue was falling short of what is needed. It takes more time and effort to grade tests in languages the examiner likely doesn’t understand.

We appreciate the KSP’s interest in cutting costs, but there are better ways to save money than making it more difficult for many foreign-born residents to gain the right to drive in Kentucky.