DMV reform bill contains questionable proposal

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State lawmakers are speeding down the road toward cutting costs at the Division of Motor Vehicles, but public safety advocates may wish lawmakers would slam on the brakes. A bill overwhelmingly approved by the House would make South Carolina licenses good for 10 years instead of the current five years.

That measure should reduce operational costs as well as shorten the notoriously long lines at the DMV. A legitimate concern, however, is that safety would be sacrificed in the rush to cut costs at the DMV.

A 10-year license may do little to ensure the competency of South Carolina motorists. Our roads already are among the deadliest in the nation. Extending the validity of licenses to six, seven or eight years might be appropriate, but 10 years represents quite a leap. Lawmakers may want to consult traffic safety groups to make sure a 10-year license would not make our deadly highways even more dangerous.

Another measure in the bill would make the DMV more accountable by splitting the agency from the Department of Public Safety and giving the governor direct power to hire and fire the director. That would allow one high-ranking director to concentrate on the DMV while the DPS director could be held accountable solely for the state's Highway Patrol and Criminal Justice Academy.

The bill also would allow private contractors to test driver's license applicants. That's a reasonable measure, as long as lawmakers have high standards for ensuring the qualifications of private contractors.

A number of elements of the bill involve DMV organizational changes. Overall, the House bill could improve an agency that has been responsible for much frustration among South Carolinians. But the 10-year driver's license proposal should be studied carefully before it earns final approval.