Illinois Senate Passes Bill easing Driving Test Requirements for Seniors
Springfield, Ill. – A significant change could be coming to Illinois driving laws for senior citizens. A bill, unanimously approved by the Senate on Thursday, is now headed to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk, proposing to raise the age at which Illinois drivers must undergo annual driving tests.
Current Requirements vs. Proposed Changes
Currently, Illinois law mandates that drivers renewing their licenses between the ages of 79 and 80 must take a driving test. This requirement escalates for older drivers: those between 81 and 86 face tests every two years, while drivers aged 87 and older must take the test annually.
House Bill 1226, sponsored by Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, seeks to alter this landscape. If Gov. Pritzker signs the bill into law, only drivers aged 87 and above would be required to take an annual driving test. Drivers between 79 and 86 would be exempt from the driving test requirement for license renewal. Rather, they would only need to pass a vision test and, if they have a driving violation on their record, a writen test.
Expanding the Circle of Concern
Beyond easing testing requirements, the bill introduces a provision allowing a wider range of individuals to report concerns about a driver’s medical fitness.The bill would also allow a spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling or child of any Illinois driver to submit medical details about the driver to the secretary of state if they think the person’s medical condition interferes with their driving abilities. Currently, only medical officials, police officers and state’s attorneys can submit such information.
Pro Tip
Early intervention is key. If you have concerns about a loved one’s driving abilities, initiating a conversation and seeking professional medical advice can help ensure their safety and the safety of others on the road.
Bipartisan Support and rationale
HB 1226, also known as the road Safety and Fairness Act, has garnered bipartisan support.Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced his support for the bill in January alongside lawmakers from both sides of the aisle.The bill was conceived by a constituent of Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, last year.
The bill has 86 cosponsors in the House and 35 in the Senate.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Illinois stands alone as the only state requiring seniors to pass a driving test solely based on age. Though, state data suggests that older drivers exhibit lower crash rates compared to othre age groups.
In 2023, the crash rate for drivers aged 75 and older was 24.61 per 1,000 drivers, which was lower then any other age group, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. The low crash rate has been consistent as at least 2018, according to the Secretary of State’s Office’s 2023 Study on Age-related Driving abilities.
The crash rate is more than double for many of the other age groups.
Quotable Moments
Illinois is the only state that requires seniors to pass a driving test solely due to their age.
Illinois Department of Transportation
in 2023,the crash rate for drivers aged 75 and older was 24.61 per 1,000 drivers, which was lower than any other age group.
Illinois Department of Transportation
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