Posted on: Saturday, March 26, 2005

EDITORIAL
Web appointment for driver's test welcome

Taking the driver's license road test can be stressful enough. In recent months, long lines and even longer waits for road test appointments have made the process even more of an ordeal.

Applicants found that trying to make walk-in appointments meant getting in line long before the sun was up, and sometimes making several trips.

So, certainly there are cheers (and a collective sigh of relief) in homes across the island over news the city now will let people book appointments online to take the driver's license road test.

It's a win-win situation: It makes the process simpler, and there is no added cost for taxpayers.

Up to now, it has been anything but simple. An applicant has had to make at least two visits to one of five O'ahu driver's license offices — one to make the appointment and one to take the test — and stand in at least three lines.

Now, applicants need only make one visit to the driver's license office — to take the road test — and if they pay online with a credit card, they only have to wait in one line.

The time-saving new system allows people to go online and select a location, date and time slot from a list of openings available in the coming weeks. The city also is working on improving the system for those who do not have computer access.

Kudos to the city for a solution that shows us how government is supposed to work.