A new bill in Illinois aims to ease driving tests for older adults, recognizing their safe driving records

Chicago: You know how you sometimes see a driver speeding or texting? It’s usually not an older person behind the wheel. In fact, a recent report showed that drivers aged 75 and up in Illinois had a crash rate of just 25 per 1,000, which is lower than any other age group.
But here’s the kicker: older adults have to deal with stricter rules when renewing their licenses. If you’re 79 or 80, you need to take a driving test if your license expires. From 81 to 86, it’s every two years, and after 87, it’s every year. That’s tougher than any other state!
It’s time to change that. The focus should be on health and ability, not just age. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and some lawmakers are pushing a new bill that could help. They’re having a press conference in Chicago on Tuesday to talk about it.
This new bill would get rid of those two-year tests for drivers aged 81 to 86, but they’d still need to take a road test starting at 87. Plus, it would let family members ask the state to check if their older relatives are still fit to drive.
Last year, Rep. Jeff Keicher tried to pass a bill that removed all restrictions for older drivers, but it didn’t get enough support. He thinks this new bill has a better shot at making it through.
Keicher mentioned that this is a big issue for his constituents. “Absolutely, this is the No. 1 issue that people reach out on to my office about,” he said. “I think we are moving in the right direction.”
Older drivers have proven they can be safe on the road. It’s about time the state recognizes that.