Huge change to driving test in one state - and Aussies are divided: 'Confusing'

By KYLIE STEVENS, SENIOR BREAKING NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 04:53, 13 April 2026 | Updated: 04:53, 13 April 2026 Aussies have been left divided after the Driver Knowledge Test was expanded to eight languages in one state.  Applicants must first pass the 45-question theory test about road safety and rules to obtain a learner's licence in New South Wales. Since 2024, aspiring motorists can take the online test from home or anywhere with internet access and do not have to pay the fee again if they fail the first time. The DKT is already available in English, Simplified Chinese, Arabic, Spanish and Vietnamese in Australia's most populous state. The test will be offered in Korean from next month, along with Thai, Farsi (Persian) and traditional Chinese later in the year. The 100-page official road user handbook will also be available in the eight languages.  It's understood that the latest additions were chosen based on languages spoken in NSW households, along with recent migration trends. 2GB presenter James Willis slammed the move. Novice drivers in NSW will soon be able to take the Driver Knowledge Test in one of eight languages 'At the risk of sounding controversial, I would have thought it was pretty important for someone driving on Sydney roads to at least understand basic English,' he said. 'The signs are in English, the tunnel directions are in English. English is on all the alerts and hazard signs, it's also written on every street sign. 'When a warning goes off about an accident in the WestConnex, the voice you generally hear is in English.' Many Aussies agreed that learner drivers should understand basic English before being allowed to get behind the wheel. 'What happens when they have to follow verbal instructions given to them by the police and traffic controllers?' one commented online. Another added: 'So, are we going to change every sign on every road, parking etc because if they cannot understand the test in English? How are they going to read the signs in English?' A third wrote: 'So are we going to have road signs in all different languages - confusing enough now without that.' Many others slammed the move as a joke.  The DKT change has sparked debate over whether drivers should understand basic English before getting behind the wheel. Pictured is traffic on Sydney's Parramatta Road 'April Fool's Day was over a week ago,' another wrote. But some pointed out that the test has been available in different languages for decades. 'It's actually a good idea and makes sense,' one commented. Another added: 'This is nothing new. Also, would you stop any non-English speaking tourists from driving?' Daily Mail has contacted the NSW Department of Customer Service for comment.  In Victoria, the DKT is available in 13 languages and in five languages in South Australia. Other states provide a pre-booked interpreter service for the test.  In the US earlier this year, Governor Ron DeSantis' administration upgraded Florida's legislation for driver licence and skill tests to make them exclusively in English.  This is despite the south-eastern state having the third-largest foreign-born population, behind California and Texas.  'Previously, knowledge exams for most non-commercial driver license classifications were offered in multiple languages,' the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles announced at the time.  'Under the updated policy, all driver license knowledge and skills will be conducted in English.' Willis described the move as common sense. 'Florida is on the money and we should be doing the same here,' he said. 'I suggest a lot of other countries around the world would have the same system. 'Letting someone read the road rules and do the test in Spanish or Chinese isn't going to help them when they get behind the wheel for the first time.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.