Working for Illinois Caucus

• Bill would align driving laws with other states, supporters say.
• Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias drafted the legislation.
• Crash rate for senior drivers is the lowest, legislators say, citing IDOT data.

Drivers who are between 79 and 86 years old would no longer have to take a behind-the-wheel driving test to maintain a driver’s license in Illinois under proposed legislation.

Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, filed House Bill 1226 along with a long list of House sponsors showing support.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias drafted the legislation, according to a news release.

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The Land of Lincoln is the only state that requires the driving test based on age, both Giannoulias’ office and Rep. Hoffman said. They also said Illinois is one of five states that does not allow immediate family members to report concerns about a relative’s driving ability, which the bill would change.

“Our state’s crash data indicates that the crash rate for drivers aged 75 and older is lower than any other age range of drivers,” Rep. Hoffman wrote in a press release, citing 2023 crash rate data from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The bill has been placed on the calendar for a second reading and short debate.

What would the law change?

Legislation would amend the Illinois Vehicle Code to raise the age from 79 to 87 when drivers need to take a behind-the-wheel test to renew their license, in addition to creating a process for family members to report any concerns about driving ability.

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What is the law currently?

Drivers aged 79 and 80 must currently renew their license every four years, in addition to taking a behind-the-wheel test and a vision test.

Drivers between the ages of 81 and 86 years old must currently renew their license every two years as well as take a behind-the-wheel test and a vision test.

And drivers over 87 years-old must renew their license annually. To pass, they need to take a behind-the-wheel test and a vision test.

How did the Secretary of State get involved?

Giannoulias and the American Association of Retired Persons both support the initiative, according to a release from Giannoulias’ office. The Act seeks to make Illinois consistent with other states, they wrote.

“AARP Illinois has heard for years from our members about how the driving test requirement disproportionately affects older drivers and perpetuates false narratives about their driving abilities,” stated AARP Illinois State Director Philippe Largent.

Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@gannett.com.