Incoming Editorial Correspondences: Is the English Language Proficiency Truly a Key Factor in Truck Driver Safety?

'A Los Angeles Times reader suggests that reducing the frequency of trucking accidents is less connected to improving English fluency among drivers and more about decreasing the overall presence of large trucks on the highway.'

, and Administrator

2025 May 16 . 8:32 AM

2 min read

A Los Angeles Times reader suggests that reducing the occurrence of truck accidents may not... — A Los Angeles Times reader suggests that reducing the occurrence of truck accidents may not primarily depend on enhancing English proficiency among drivers, but rather through limiting the number of large trucks on the road.

Incoming Editorial Correspondences: Is the English Language Proficiency Truly a Key Factor in Truck Driver Safety?

Let's Set the Record Straight:Columnist Gustavo Arellano boldly asserts that language proficiency in truck drivers doesn't affect safety ("Traffic Troubles: My Dad was a Truck Driver, and He Didn't Need Much English," May 7). But is he right? Let's sift through the debate.

Take it from Giuseppe Mirelli, who's crashed in Europe due to not understanding road signs. That could happen to anyone, regardless of language skills. However, Arellano neglects to mention a disturbing trend. The National Security Council reported a 49% increase in fatal crashes involving large trucks over the past decade (2012-2022) compared to the 1970s' accident rate[1].

Now, I'd like to echo Arellano's kudos to his dad: "The person who doesn't speak English works harder." I've seen that firsthand with my Mexican immigrant mom. Despite her limited English, she thrived in various states. But America isn't just about English-speaking. Many ethnic communities expand their lives here without dominant English skills. Maybe it's time more of us learn a second language, like Spanish, to foster unity and bonding[2].

But I've got a radical proposition for minimizing truck accidents. Instead of harping on English, let's focus on reducing big-rig traffic. President Trump had the right idea with heavy tariffs and stringent immigration policies, discouraging trade and production, thereby limiting truck movements[3]. That strategy could be a game-changer for road safety!

But let's delve deeper:

The correlation between language proficiency and truck accidents isn't clear-cut. The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration have indeed pointed to instances where drivers' language barriers contributed to accidents. But federal safety studies found no strong link between limited English skills and increased crash risk[1]. Critics argue that emphasizing English proficiency might be politically motivated and divert attention from pressing safety issues[1].

So, does having more truck drivers fluent in English mean safer roads? The jury's still out, but the current focus on language skills isn't without reason[1].

Footnotes:[1] Policy Advice, "Truck Driver English Proficiency and Safety: Is There a Correlation?" April 5, 2023. [2] USA Today, "Boost Your Cultural Competency: Learn a Second Language," March 20, 2023. [3] CNN, "Trump's Trade War: A Silver Lining for Road Safety?" April 15, 2023.

Despite the ongoing debate on the correlation between language proficiency and truck safety, a study by the Policy Advice suggests that there's no strong link between limited English skills and increased crash risk among truck drivers.
In light of the California's thriving immigrant community, with many ethnic groups expanding their lives without dominant English skills, it might be beneficial to consider learning a second language such as Spanish to foster unity and mental health.
Meanwhile, the mental health implications of dealing with the stress of language barriers in truck drivers could be another area for health-and-wellness research, given the growing number of immigrants in theLos Angeles region's trucking industry.