State Representative, Kip Capley, has Proposed Legislation Involving Driver’s License Exams

To increase road safety throughout Tennessee, State Representative Kip Capley, a Republican from Summertown, has proposed legislation mandating that all driver’s license exams be given in English. According to House Bill 0556, the written section of the test would have to be administered solely in English without the aid of dictionaries, electronic devices, or interpreters. “This bill ensures that every driver on our roads can read, understand, and respond to traffic signs and hazards,” Capley said. English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and German are the five languages in which Tennessee currently offers the driver’s license exam. In 2024, the state of Tennessee saw 551,313 driver exams conducted by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. One-sixth of those, or 90,396 in a language other than English, were provided. “If someone cannot read or understand road signs, they not only risk their safety, but that of all drivers,” Capley said. “It’s a safety issue, much like impaired driving.” Capley represents District 71, which is parts of Wayne, Hardin, Lawrence, and Maury counties.