Ahead of the 2026 legislative session, State Rep. Phillip Pettus (R-Killen) has prefiled a bill to improve driver safety on Alabama's roadways.
According to Pettus, the legislation would require the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to conduct driver's license exams in English only. The bill would also apply to licenses for private passenger vehicles and commercial driver's licenses, despite the CDL test already being administered solely in English.
Pettus said the legislation is necessary, citing recent fatal crashes nationwide involving drivers who were unable to speak or understand English.
"Alabama already gives our CDL test only in English. But I started checking around this saying, you know, if they're involved in a wreck, if law enforcement comes to them, they need to be able to speak English to them, because most of our law enforcement only speak English," Pettus told 1819 News. "The driver's test, all the road signs, everything is in English."
"If you're going to be in Alabama, you're going to take our road test; you need to be able to speak English and understand English," added Pettus.
As a former state trooper with 25 years of service, Pettus said he has seen firsthand the issues caused by drivers in Alabama who don't speak or understand English.
"My last five years, I was over the north court of the state under driver's license," Pettus stated. "I've seen a lot of times, especially on road tests and all."
"There was one instance, an instructor said, I need you to get in the car and turn the headlights on. Well, they went and got in the passenger seat," Pettus notes. "They didn't understand enough to do it. And they're out there, you know, and they're riding with these people. So we're not only putting our examiners at risk, we're putting the public out here at risk. They don't understand simple English, how to drive."
ALEA and the Alabama Trucking Association have vetted Pettus' bill.
"I sent it to ALEA first to make sure they were okay with it. And I've also sent it to the trucking industry, Mark Colson, of Alabama Trucking Association. Neither one of them have any problems with the bill."
"It's all about safety. And you know, if it saves one life, it's worth it," Pettus added.
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