No easy drive: Sikh truck drivers in California stare at a storm

Sikh drivers in California say they are under extra glare from law enforcement authorities in the aftermath of the sorry accident in Florida in which Harjinder Singh, a youth with origins in India, allegedly caused an accident in which three persons inside a passenger car were killed.

While Harjinder now stares at manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges, other truck drivers from the Sikh community may be bearing the fallout of the August 12 incident. As per a BBC report, drivers from the Sikh community who are tasked with delivering goods ranging from strawberries to lumber are being asked to take up English-speaking classes and refresher courses to understand road rules and signage. Often, it is a voluntary exercise on the part of the drivers or the Sikh community. But several of the drivers also say that they are often halted by highway patrol vehicles for random checks.

As per reports in the US media, several Sikh truck drivers are being randomly flagged by authorities and being forced to take impromptu English proficiency tests. There are also instances of random checks of the cargo in their vehicles, especially at highway checkpoints.

Florida truck crash and the backlash

According to estimates, there are over 7.50 lakh Sikh immigrants in the United States, and a large chunk of this number is either directly or indirectly involved in the trucking business in the country. The Florida truck crash last month has put the spotlight on the question of illegal immigrants as well because it has been alleged Harjinder had crossed into the US via the Mexico border. Reports also suggest that Harjinder lacks the ability to speak or comprehend either spoken or written English.

In the immediate aftermath of the crash, voices on social media called for an increased scrutiny of immigrants involved in the trucking business. The Sikh community was particularly targeted. “Sometimes an individual's actions may cost the entire community,” Narinder Singh, a 51-year-old truck driver in California, was quoted as saying by BBC.

The accident in question took place on a highway when Harjinder allegedly made a U-turn on the Florida Turnpike, which led to a minivan crashing into the body of his truck. Taking a U-turn here was prohibited by law.

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