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Connor Dzion, 18, of northern Florida, died in 2017 in 2017, showing us the disastrous consequences of weak common sense execution Road safety measures. Connor was killed by a distracted truck driver who was unable to read English while ignoring his key warning signs on the highway. This is a preventable tragedy, not a simple mistake.
Life in the United States should not be seen as collateral damage due to a failed social justice program or the desire of a variable truck company trying to undermine the wages of a family truck driver. Congress must act decisively.
That’s why Rep. Dave Taylor, R-Ohio and me Introducing Connor’s Law To organize the long-term, common sense English proficiency (ELP) requirements for commercial vehicle drivers. The bill will ensure that CDL holders who cannot read or speak English exit the service.
An undocumented driver failed the English assessment and was involved in a crash that killed three people after he tried to execute an illegal turnaround in the middle of a busy multi-lane highway in Florida last month. (St. Lucy County Sheriff’s Office)
These are not new expectations or requirements. Existing federal regulations actually stipulate CDL driver It is necessary to “read and speak English enough to speak to the public, learn about highway traffic signs and signals in English to respond to official inquiries and to entries on reports and records.”
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However, in 2016, under the direction of the Obama administration, the Federal Automobile Airlines Safety Administration (FMCSA) quietly violated its standards for serving services, effectively covering up the implementation of this common sense rule.
After I learned of this risk during my tenure as a Wyoming congresswoman, I began calling for a return to law enforcement. On April 10, 2025, I wrote to US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, identifying the issue and noted: “With the number of accidents involving CMV, it is crucial that we take steps to reveal and reevaluate these hidden policies.”
True to their commitment to responsiveness and accountability, Secretary Duffy immediately reiterated that the current government will once again implement the ELP requirement. Under the leadership of the president Donald TrumpFMCSA then issued new guidance to inspectors to assess drivers’ English proficiency during curbside inspections, including driver interviews and sign recognition assessments.
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The driver interview requires the inspector to initiate an English check first, and if the driver does not understand the basic instructions, a verbal interview will be conducted to evaluate their conversation ability and respond to official inquiries. In addition, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) restores ELP failures to service violations.
Law enforcement on the state remains unbalanced and uncertain. That’s why Connor’s law is important. It incorporates this standard into law, giving state and federal authorities the clarity and authority needed to ensure our road safety.
August 21, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio Announced the immediate cessation of all workers’ VISA issued for commercial truck drivers, citing public safety issues and threats to U.S. livelihoods. The restrictions were adopted after a horrific crash in Florida, where an undocumented driver was involved in a crash that killed three people after failing to pass an English-language assessment as he attempted to perform an illegal turnaround in the middle of a busy multi-lane highway. This is another tragedy that shouldn’t have happened.
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In Wyoming, we have first-hand experience with the tragic consequences of allowing ELP-defective drivers to take home last week. Tiffany Gruetzmacher was severely injured on December 21, 2022, traveling from 45 to 60 mph when Saviol Saint Jean drove through the scene of the accident and ran into them. Despite receiving CDL, Saint-Jean was not proficient in English.
And some Non-English driver Possibly understand standard road signs, such as stop signs, they cannot understand the variable message signs (VMs) that are common on our highways. In Wyoming, VMs are used throughout the state – especially in the entire I-80 (seeing over 12,000 cars a day) to warn drivers of changes in weather conditions, hazards and road blockades.
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If commercial drivers cannot read English, they will completely miss out on critical VMS instructions, thus undermining safety and increasing the likelihood of a catastrophic response to changing road conditions.
Every American should be convinced that when they share the road with 18 rounds, the person behind the steering wheel can read the signs, learn the instructions, respond to emergencies and follow the rules. By passing Connor’s laws, we will improve Safety on the highway And make sure Connor doesn’t die in vain.
Click here to read more from the rep. Harriet Hargman
