Drastic measures in the U.S.: 110 driving schools closed due to irregularities in driver training
United States Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy reported this Monday on the emergency closure of 110 driving schools dedicated to training commercial drivers. The measure responds to a series of irregularities detected, mainly linked to non-compliance with regulations requiring English language proficiency to operate cargo and heavy transport vehicles.
According to the authorities, these educational centers were responsible for approximately 5,000 violations related to the lack of linguistic competence of their graduates. Duffy emphasized that English proficiency is a mandatory requirement that has been in effect for decades, essential to ensure safety on American roads.
There are schools that know the rule but still pass students who do not speak the language. Through data analysis, we have identified 110 schools that, as of today, present the greatest irregularities. Those schools have been closed.
Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Beyond language: Precarious conditions and lack of certification
The Department of Transportation’s intervention was not limited to the linguistic aspect. The entity confirmed the additional closure of 160 centers that were operating under irregular conditions. According to the report, these institutions lacked the minimum necessary infrastructure, such as adequate spaces for truck maneuvers, turns, and essential practices.
The secretary detailed that unlicensed instructors were detected, as well as establishments that did not even have classrooms to provide theoretical training, putting the quality of education and road safety at risk.
Road safety strategy under the Trump administration
Since the beginning of the current administration, the White House has implemented a rigorous strategy to clean up the commercial licensing system. Official figures reflect the scope of this offensive against fraud:
- More than 28,000 drivers without English proficiency have been removed from the roads.
- The cancellation of more than 30,000 licenses illegally issued to foreign drivers has been enforced.
- More than 8,000 training schools considered unqualified have been removed from official records.
As part of these policies, the Republican government established in February the requirement that all truck and bus license exams be taken exclusively in English. This directive eliminates the flexibility offered by states like Florida and California, where it was previously permitted to take written tests in multiple languages.
