A deadly Florida crash has sparked a federal showdown over truck driver safety. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is putting California, Washington, and New Mexico on notice for failing to enforce English proficiency rules for commercial drivers, as News Nation reports. The move signals a no-nonsense push to prioritize road safety over progressive leniency.
Earlier this month, a truck driver’s illegal U-turn in Florida killed three people, exposing glaring gaps in state enforcement of federal guidelines. The driver, Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old native of India, flunked a roadside English test, answering only two of 12 questions correctly. This tragedy prompted Duffy’s crackdown on states ignoring the rules.
New federal guidelines, effective since June, mandate that truck drivers demonstrate English fluency to read signs and communicate with law enforcement. States are tasked with enforcing these standards through roadside inspections. Yet, some states seem more interested in dodging accountability than ensuring safety.
Singh, the driver in the Florida crash, held commercial licenses from California and Washington despite failing language and road sign exams. “He failed full stop, failed,” Duffy said, slamming Singh’s inability to understand basic road signs. This isn’t just a personal failure -- it’s a systemic one.
California’s inspections uncovered violations, but only sidelined one driver for language issues. Meanwhile, 23 drivers with violations elsewhere kept driving. This laissez-faire approach reeks of prioritizing politics over public safety.
Washington fared slightly better, pulling four drivers for language violations after identifying over 6,000 safety issues. Still, that’s a drop in the bucket for a state issuing licenses to drivers who can’t read “STOP.” It’s hard to see this as anything but bureaucratic negligence.
New Mexico’s record is even worse, with zero drivers taken out of service for language violations since June. A month before the Florida crash, Singh was stopped there, but police skipped the required English test. This oversight allowed a ticking time bomb to stay behind the wheel.
“States don’t get to pick and choose which federal safety rules to follow,” Duffy declared. His warning is clear: comply within 30 days or lose Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program funds. It’s a bold move to force states to stop coddling unqualified drivers.
California’s claim that Singh had a work permit from the Trump era was swiftly debunked by the Department of Homeland Security. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s team seems more focused on deflecting blame than fixing the problem. Truth apparently takes a backseat to political spin.
Singh, accused of entering the U.S. illegally from Mexico in 2018, now faces three counts of vehicular homicide plus immigration charges. California’s policy of issuing licenses regardless of immigration status -- shared by 19 other states and D.C. -- raises questions about vetting. Safety shouldn’t be sacrificed for open-border idealism.
“This is about keeping people safe on the road,” Duffy emphasized. His focus on English proficiency isn’t about exclusion; it’s about ensuring drivers can navigate and communicate. Anything less endangers everyone sharing the highways.
Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, backs Duffy’s stance. “Basic English skills are critical for safely operating a commercial motor vehicle,” he said. Reading signs and following emergency instructions aren’t optional -- they’re lifesaving necessities.
States have until Sept. 25 to align with DOT rules or face losing critical funding. “The bottom line is, follow the rules of DOT in your state, or there will be serious consequences,” Duffy warned. It’s a wake-up call for states prioritizing progressive policies over practical safety.
The Florida crash, a preventable tragedy, underscores the stakes. “As we saw with the horrific Florida crash that killed three, when states fail to enforce the law, they put the driving public in danger,” Duffy said. Excuses won’t bring back the lives lost.
Duffy’s ultimatum is a refreshing stand against bureaucratic inertia and woke posturing. States must enforce English proficiency for truck drivers or face the music. The open road demands competence, not compromise.
