Calgary Police Chief Katie McLellan has thrown her support behind a proposal to make Alberta's driver knowledge test available only in English, aligning with Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen's push to tighten driver testing requirements.
Safety Concerns Drive Proposal
McLellan stated that understanding English is essential for reading road signs and ensuring safe driving. "You have to be able to read English signs. If you can't read English, how can you pass a driving test?" she said, emphasizing that driving is a privilege, not a right.
Currently, Alberta offers the knowledge test in 25 languages via headphones, allows paper dictionaries, and permits translators for languages not covered. Dreeshen questions whether these accommodations compromise road safety and is considering an English-only policy, similar to the United Kingdom's approach.
UK Precedent
The UK moved to English-only knowledge tests (with Welsh in Wales) to ensure drivers understand road signs and reduce fraud risks from translators coaching test-takers. Alberta's proposal mirrors these concerns.
Dreeshen expects criticism but remains undeterred, calling the change common sense. McLellan added that any measure to improve driver quality and road safety is welcome.
The proposal is part of broader efforts by the Smith government to crack down on bad driving and enhance licensing standards.
