This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Adults older than 19 soon may no longer need to take driver education courses to obtain a driver license in Utah.

The House voted 67-1 on Friday to approve some Senate amendments and give final passage to HB266, and sent it to Gov. Gary Herbert for his signature.

Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, said 40 states do not require driver education for adults older than age 19. His amended bill would also require such people to hold a learning permit for three months and certify that they drove at least 40 hours during that time. He said the best way to learn to drive is to drive.

Daw said he started pushing the bill when a constituent complained that he would need to spend $300 to $500 for a driving class for his wife, who knew how to drive well.

The bill had opposition from some state driving test examiners, who said the change could put lives in danger. They said some drivers, especially from foreign nations where driving cultures are far different, could benefit from instructors who would watch for and correct bad or dangerous habits.

Lee Davidson