KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee driver's license knowledge exam is offered in five languages at certain locations across the state.
As WBIR previously reported, some Tennesseans believe the five languages—English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and German—don't fully meet the needs of people in the state.
For example, the exam is not administered in Arabic, even though it is the third most spoken language in Tennessee, according to census data.
Rather than expanding language accessibility on the exam, a Tennessee lawmaker has proposed legislation to strip the list of languages back to English only.
House Bill 1730, introduced by Rep. Kip Capley and co-sponsored by Sen. Joey Hensley, "requires all written driver license examinations to be administered in English only; prohibits use of a translation dictionary, electronic device, or interpreter to assist with the examination."
Noah McBrayer Jones, development and communication director at Bridge Refugee Services, helps new Americans as they settle into their new homes in East Tennessee. "Being able to drive is a big important part of what our clients are looking for," he explained.
Jones said taking languages away will make refugees less self-sufficient, therefore hindering Tennessee's economy.
"It doesn't seem like there is a reason for doing this," Jones added. "If we want to be a state of business, if we want to be a state that is looking for employment, this is a stumbling block on that. This is a way that makes it harder for employers to get workers to the job, not easier."
Proponents of the bill argue it would make Tennessee roads safer, but Jones said road signs are designed to be understood by everyone.
"That is their purpose. They are designed in a way that even somebody who was, after having taken this test is still largely illiterate in English, could still drive," he said.
A refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Freddie Nsapo arrived in the United States in the 1990s in search of safety and freedom.
Nsapo had been driving for years before relocating to Tennessee, but obtaining a driver's license as a new American was no easy task.
"I failed twice. Not because I didn't know how to drive, but because I didn't understand English. So, passing the test was like my victory," Nsapo recalled.
For Nsapo, a driver's license was the passport to freedom. If the bill becomes law, he worries it would make that freedom much more difficult to reach for many people in Tennessee. “The law is very, very discriminatory," he added.
Sen. Hensley's office did not respond to WBIR's interview request.
Rep. Capley's office said he was not available for an interview, but provided this statement in a press release:
“All Tennesseans want to feel safe on the road. The ability to understand signs and warnings is important for the protection of other drivers. Not being able to do so can pose a real danger to public safety. If you have to take a written driver exam in a language other than English in order to pass, it’s my view that you shouldn’t receive a Tennessee driver’s license until you’re able to pass in the official and legal language of our state. The test will still be available for disabled Tennessee citizens who need modifications.”