§391.11 General qualifications of drivers.

Guidance Q&A

Question 7: Would a driver who fails to meet the hearing standard under 49 CFR 391.41(b)(11) but has obtained an exemption from that requirement, be considered unqualified under the English language proficiency requirement in 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) if the driver cannot communicate orally in English?

Guidance: No, if the hearing impaired driver with an exemption is capable of reading and writing in the English language. In that circumstance, the hearing impaired driver satisfies the English language requirement. The absence of an ability to speak in English is not an indication that the individual cannot read and write in English sufficiently to communicate with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records.