Bill would mandate tests for elderly drivers

Be honest, now: Hasn't there been at least one time in your life when you've wished that the state would take driver's licenses away from old people? Seriously — we know it's ageist and insensitive and whatever, but you know the thought has gone through your head. Well, all you cruel, cruel people, you're not alone: The Legislature is thinking about it, too.

A bill introduced by state Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas) would amend the state Transportation Code so that Texans age 90 and over would have to pass regular driving and vision tests in order to be able to keep their licenses — the licenses would expire when drivers turned 90, and keeping a license would be based on drivers passing the tests every two years after that.

The Senate's Transportation and Homeland Security Committee heard testimony on the bill yesterday, including that of Liz and Charles Stovall, whose daughter Shannon was hit and killed by an 83-year-old driver who jumped a curb in Spring last year. "We don't want to take the privilege of driving away from anybody, but we want to take people off the street who are not physically capable to control a vehicle," Liz Stovall told KTRK.

Testimony on the companion House bill is scheduled to be heard Monday.