License plan could be deadly

e-mail this story discuss this issue in our forums Paul Hyde • License plan could be deadly (05/21/03) • Democrats still face long odds (05/07/03) • Should state superintendent be appointed? (04/24/03) • Lawmakers should pony up for buses (04/10/03) • Lawmakers can save lives or not (03/26/03)

A driver's license proposal could make our roads even more unsafe.

Here's how: State lawmakers plan to let motorists renew driver's licenses once every 10 years rather than once every five.

That will come as a relief to many South Carolinians who hate battling the often never-ending lines at the Division of Motor Vehicles.

But it's dangerous public policy.

Under the bill, motorists would have to take an eye test only once every 10 years rather than once every five years. Those renewing a license by Internet would only have to take an eye test every 20 years — five times the length recommended by traffic safety groups.

The new license policy could very well mean that South Carolina will have even fewer competent drivers on our roads. South Carolina already ranks No. 3 in the nation in fatalities per mile driven.

The new license would give South Carolina the second longest renewal period in the nation — although drivers 65 and older would still have to renew licenses every five years. Only Arizona would have a more lax driver's license policy than South Carolina.

"We think it's a bad idea," said Tom Crosby, vice president with AAA Carolinas, adding that the state's driver's license policy already is far too lenient. The group supports not only a regular vision test but also a regular exam to test a driver's knowledge of basic traffic law.

Before state lawmakers embrace a 10-year license, they should recall the state's purpose in requiring a driver's license in the first place:

"A driver's license demonstrates that a person has the knowledge and ability to handle a vehicle on South Carolina roads," according to Sid Gaulden, DMV spokesman.

The vision test is a "key part" of proving that a driver has the ability to handle a vehicle, according to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.

The AAMVA — the mother of all DMVs — recommends that all drivers have a vision screening test at least once every four years. Not 10 years, but every four.

That makes sense. Eyesight can change a great deal in four years. If a guy can't pass an eye test, we probably don't want him on the road until he gets glasses — or better glasses.

Personally, I never knew I needed glasses until a kindly DMV clerk told me some years ago to get glasses or get off the road. Thank you, DMV clerk.

Most states follow the AAMVA recommendations, renewing a driver's licenses every four or five years. Although some drivers avoid a regular vision test by renewing by mail or the Internet, most states require a vision test at the time of renewal.

South Carolina clearly would be going in the opposite direction, relaxing standards and being, yet again, a model of bad and dangerous behavior.

The reason the state is speeding toward a 10-year license is clear: The DMV, with its long lines, is one of the most glaring examples of a government program that doesn't work. And Gov. Sanford and lawmakers are desperate to achieve something this year, having notably failed thus far in so many other areas, including public education.

By lengthening the driver's license from five years to 10, lawmakers can drastically reduce the number of people needing driver's licenses at the DMV.

Long lines gone. Problem solved.

But what about public safety?

We all hate the long lines at the DMV. But we don't need a quick fix like the 10-year license that could result in more deaths on South Carolina roads.

Lawmakers need to slam the emergency brakes on the 10-year license plan.

Write to Paul Hyde, editorial page associate editor, at phyde@greenvillenews.com.