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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Legislation proposed by state Sen. Allen Christensen would require people over 70 to renew their licenses, including passing a vision test, every two years, and would require those over 80 to pass a driving competency test with every renewal.
Under current law, drivers, including seniors, are generally required to renew their licenses every five years and can do so by mail every other time.
Christensen, a 60-year-old Republican dentist from North Ogden, he decided to sponsor the bill after hearing that the 95-year-old grandmother of one of his employees had renewed her license by mail.
"If they're not competent, they should not be behind the wheel," Christensen said. "Everybody that I bring this up to has a story about a family member, a neighbor or a friend who shouldn't be driving."
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 14 states have similar accelerated driver license renewal laws for seniors. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have other provisions, such as requiring that seniors renew licenses in person rather than by mail.
The American Automobile Association says the elderly have the second highest crash-death rate after teenagers.
The bill would increase the driver license renewal fee for people over 65 from $6 to $10. The renewal fee for other drivers is $20.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
