New Illinois Teen Driving Laws
February 04, 2008
Starting on Jan. 1, Illinois teens will have to work harder to earn driver's licenses, and they will face extra restrictions once they're behind the wheel.
Legislation that implements various teen driving reforms is among the more than 220 new state laws taking effect on New Year's Day.
The idea behind the legislation, Senate Bill 172, is to reduce high accident rates for teen drivers. Secretary of State Jesse White's Teen Driver Safety Task Force crafted the reforms.
The issue of teen driving safety has been particularly significant in Tazewell County, where 15 youths died in traffic accidents during a 15-month span in 2005 and 2006.
Under the new law, a teen will keep a driving learner's permit for nine months, or three times longer than previously required. Supporters of the change say it will enable teens to practice driving in different types of weather.
Other provisions of the new teen driving law will:
- Require new drivers with a graduated driver's license to drive for six months without any violations by age 18 before becoming eligible for an unrestricted license.
- Double from six to 12 months the period in which a new driver younger than 18 is barred from having more than one non-family passenger younger than 20.
- Extend nighttime curfews to cover drivers up to age 17.
- Shorten the weekday and weekend curfews by an hour each, unless an emergency exists or unless the teen is driving with an adult or to or from work or school. The new curfews are 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends.
- Toughen penalties for street racing.
Additional laws that affect teen drivers:
- Juvenile driving records - HB518/PA95-0201 - Lets parents or guardians examine their child's driving record online and at no charge, as long as the child is 18 or younger.
- Teen drivers and cell phones - SB140/PA95-0338 - Prohibits 18-year-olds with a graduated driver's license or instruction permit from talking on a cell phone while driving, unless an emergency exists. Existing law already banned motorists younger than 18 from using cell phones while driving.
More detailed information about each measure, including the full text, is available online at www.ilga.gov.
Courtesy of Peoria Journal Star
