New research by U.S. English finds that 15 states have changed the number of languages in which they offer driver’s license exams between 2007 and 2009. In a sign that popular sentiment, safety concerns and budgetary requirements may be taking priority, eight states reduced the number of languages in which the test was offered, while seven increased their language offerings.

North Carolina was the worst offender in multilingual madness, increasing from two languages to ten. West Virginia saw the second largest rise, from just an English exam in 2007 to English, Chinese, German, Japanese and Spanish today. Kentucky, which was offering a license exam in 20 languages, added Albanian, Persian and Thai, while Connecticut padded its former total of 19 with Hebrew and Turkish.

Of the eight states to eliminate at least one foreign language offering, four ended the provision of licensing exams in languages other than English. Arizona, Kansas, Utah and Hawaii now join Maine, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Wyoming among the states which have eliminated translation issues by limiting exams to the English language. The research, which was conducted by contacting officials at the motor vehicle departments in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, also found that Illinois, Michigan, South Carolina and Wisconsin have decreased their language provisions between 2007 and 2009. A complete list of the states and the languages in which they currently offer driver’s license exams can be found here.

“Limiting driver’s license exams to English saves taxpayer money, makes for safer roads and is smart government policy,” said Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of U.S. English, Inc. “It is mind boggling to think that our elected officials are unwilling to listen to their constituents by eliminating non-English driver’s license tests for people who have not met their civic requirement of learning English. There are too many examples of states cutting police services, library hours and closing parks all while they provide driver’s licenses in a dozen or more languages.”

The high cost of providing licensing services in foreign languages combined with safety concerns of motorists who are unable to understand English led the Kentucky State Police to announce that they would eliminate all non-English versions of the test this month. Despite the fact that Kentucky faces an expected $1 billion deficit, Governor Steve Beshear reversed the decision last week, leaving state taxpayers on the hook for exams in 22 languages other than English.

“A driver’s license is a privilege, not a right,” added Mujica. “A non-English speaker can no more ask for an exam tailored to his or her specific language than a full-time working mother can ask the Motor Vehicle Department to stay open until midnight to accommodate for the needs of her family. A moderate understanding of English must be a requirement for the acquisition of a driver’s license. Non-English speakers can do what millions of Americans do – walk, get a ride with a licensed driver or take the bus.”