Ill. Legislature Considers Proposals on Teen Driving Safety

Illinois state lawmakers are considering several proposals this spring to reduce a rash of fatal accidents involving teen drivers. Here is a look at what legislators are proposing:

_SB32: Increases requirements for teens to get a driver’s license, including 150 hours of driving training instead of 50 hours and a 12-month, rather than a three-month, instruction permit.

_SB172: Increases requirements for teens who want to drive, including earlier curfews, long driver-training periods, longer timeframes for limits on driving with other teens in vehicles and required parental court appearance with teens who want court supervision for a traffic violation.

_SB1557: Requires driver’s education courses to include instruction on distracted driving.

_HB262: Requires random drug testing of teens under 18 before they can receive a driving instruction permit.

_HB399: Creates a state pilot program that uses an interactive driver education tool to develop safe attitudes in new drivers.

_HB408: Requires teens to display signs on their vehicles indicating they are new drivers.

_HB518: Creates an Internet database for parents or guardians to view the driving records of teens under 18.

_HB559: Prevents drivers under 19, instead of under 18, from using cell phones while driving.