[A]spiring drivers would be able to take the Department of Motor Vehicles competency test in Nepali, Burmese, Swahili, Kirundi, and Karen under a proposal that lawmakers are reviewing this week.
The bill, S.149, would require the DMV to provide written forms, applications and tests in the primary language used by every nation from which people have moved to Vermont through the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants in the last 10 years.
Right now, the DMV provides its 77-page driver’s license manual in English and Spanish. The test itself is available in English, Spanish, Serbo-Croatian, French, and Somali, said Michael Smith, director of operations at the DMV.
Amila Merdzanovic, director of USCRI Vermont, said she could think of at least five languages right away that would qualify to be added. She and a colleague have looked at language offerings in other states. Rhode Island and California offer the written test in 30 languages, she said. Idaho, another refugee resettlement area, offers its driving test in 14 languages, including English, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Korean, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, Vietnamese and American Sign Language. It also allows a foreign language interpreter to ride along on the road skills test, something not permitted in Vermont.
Helping new arrivals who don’t speak English will enable them to stay and succeed and get to their jobs in a state with limited public transportation, Senate President Pro Tem Tim Ashe, D/P- Chittenden, told the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday.
“I know the administration is also interested in making sure Vermont has a model set of policies that government and business can embrace so as populations arrive here, they know this is a place that they can arrive and stay and be successful,” said Ashe. “I see this as one small piece of it. As people move outside of Chittenden County, it will become even more important they can get driver’s licenses.”
It’s not clear how much it would cost to translate DMV documents and the test, because nobody knows exactly how many languages are involved. Smith said the state has a translation contract through Buildings and General Services that charges 28 cents per word. Translating the driving test several years ago cost about $4,000 per language, he said.
But Smith said he supports the concept.
“At the end of the day, we’re all about safety, and individuals being able to understand what is going on promotes safety,” he said.
Some members of the committee questioned whether non-English-speakers would be able to safely interpret signs in English, prompting some present to reminisce about their travels to foreign countries.
“I don’t object to more languages, I just have the fundamental question about the language of driving,” said Sen. Randy Brock, R-Franklin, after the hearing. “It seems to me a person driving in Vermont should be able to read the directional and other signs.”
Ashe said the shape of signs is becoming universal. He added he would like to see translators provided for the driving portion of the test.
Having a translator present would ensure the would-be driver “doesn’t fail just because they can’t keep up with the pace of the English or particular expressions that may not easily translate,” he said.
Translating at least the manual that test-takers can study before the written portion of the driver test would be “hugely helpful,” said Merdzanovic.
“It gives them access to employment,” Merdzanovic said. “Economic self-sufficiency is a goal and a requirement. As we all know, this area doesn’t have a great transportation system.”
