Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias last week filed
administrative rules that would increase the age at which a driver is required
to pass a driving test when they renew their license, raising it from 75 to 79.
The rules – proposed by Giannoulias to the
legislative Joint Committee on Administrative Rules – would keep in place a state
policy that went into effect during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the pandemic, lawmakers in Springfield
temporarily modified several requirements for driver’s licenses to ease strain
on the secretary of state’s office, which oversees driver services facilities.
That included the age increase for required driver tests.
But that policy was scheduled to expire Oct.
1, so Giannoulias’ office filed emergency rules to extend it beyond that date,
along with identical permanent rules. That rulemaking committee’s next regular
meeting is planned for Oct. 17 in Chicago, at which point it can determine
whether to leave the rules in place, request changes or file an objection.
“This change would make Illinois driving
standards for senior drivers more consistent compared to other states while
keeping Illinois as one of the strictest states for license renewals,” Giannoulias
said in a news release.
Under the pandemic-era policy and the rules
proposed by Giannoulias, all drivers aged 78 and younger must renew their
licenses every four years. At age 79, drivers must complete a driving test as
part of that process.
State policies for those aged 79 and older
would not change under Giannoulias’ proposed rules. Drivers aged 81 to 86 must
renew their license and take a vision and driving test every two years, and
drivers aged 87 and older must renew their license and take those tests every
year.
Illinois is the only state in the country
that has a driving test requirement for people over a certain age. Illinois
also requires more frequent driver’s license renewals for people over age 80,
something only 23 states require.
The change will affect approximately 3 percent of Illinois’ driving
population, according to the secretary of state’s office.
As part of the temporary change, the
secretary of state’s office issued
a report on driving safety among older
drivers, which found that drivers aged 75 years and older were involved in
fewer crashes – even after the temporary rule change went into effect – than
those aged 16 to 69 years.
“When it comes to total crashes, individuals who
are aged 75 and older consistently experienced lower crash rates compared to
nearly every other age group,” according to the report.
Age-related requirements for drivers have
been a longtime issue for AARP Illinois, an advocacy group that represents the
interests of those over age 50.
“Age alone is not determinative of driving performance”
Ryan Gruenenfelder, outreach and advocacy manager at AARP Illinois, told
Capitol News Illinois.
Gruenenfelder said AARP receives complaints
about age-related requirements for drivers, noting they make competent drivers
feel “targeted” for their age. He said the organization will continue to work
with the secretary of state’s office and advocate for using a person’s mobility
or indicators of driving behavior to trigger possible driving test
requirements, regardless of age.
But Gruenenfelder said AARP commends
Giannoulias for his recommendation. The group also approves of Giannoulias’ September
action to move the state’s busiest driver services facilities to an appointment-based
model, as well as this week’s
announcement that two new facilities targeted to senior drivers will offer walk-in
services.