New Bill Would Raise the Age for Mandatory Road Tests for Illinois Seniors to 87

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias speaks at a news conference Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (Amanda Vinicky / WTTW News) Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias speaks at a news conference Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (Amanda Vinicky / WTTW News)

Many Illinois seniors would get a reprieve from age-triggered behind-the-wheel driving exams under a measure that has the endorsement of Illinois’ secretary of state — though elderly drivers would still undergo more frequent testing than younger drivers.

Under the just-introduced proposal (Senate Bill 91 and House Bill 1226), Illinois would increase the age for mandatory behind-the-wheel driving tests from 79 to 87. The proposal also creates a mechanism for relatives to report family members of any age they believe are unsafe drivers.

Reporting Unsafe Drivers

As it stands, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said his office has no way to take action if someone reports a family member who shouldn’t get behind the wheel due to health or cognitive declines.

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

“If someone calls the Secretary of State’s Office and says, ‘My grandfather has dementia and routinely gets into fender benders and hits the garage when he parks the car,’ we’re unable to do anything about it,” Giannoulias said. “Or if someone calls and says, ‘My sister has undiagnosed narcolepsy and falls asleep at the wheel,’ we’re unable to do anything about it.”

Only if there’s a crash or police-involved traffic-incident could Giannoulias’ office begin the process of canceling driving privileges, he said.

Under the just-introduced proposal, if an immediate family member files a report that a medical review team at the Secretary of State’s Office deems credible, the driver may have to undergo a physical, mental or driving exam. Reports could not be filed anonymously, but that name would be kept confidential.

“We don’t want infighting, family infighting at Thanksgiving dinner,” Giannoulias said.

Only immediate relatives — a spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling or child — could file a report.

“We started with family members because that’s the most viable way,” Giannoulias said. “Because it becomes a slippery slope: It’s neighbors, then it’s friends, then it’s acquaintances, then it’s someone who got pissed off that someone was pulling out of a Walmart. We have to be realistic.”

State Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) is an insurance agent who tried last year to lift Illinois’ mandatory tests for older drivers. He said adding the ability to request the secretary of state review someone’s driving ability could help the measure to pass.

Before, Keicher said, “it stalled out and wasn’t getting much traction because there were concerns. This is the art of the possible.”

Changes to Driver’s License Renewals

Illinois is the only state that requires a driving test based on someone’s older age. Keicher said that’s consistently been a top complaint for elderly constituents.

It’s a sentiment echoed by Philippe Largent, the director of AARP Illinois, a politically active organization that represents 1.7 million members who are at least 50 years old.

“Our members believe the policy to be discriminatory,” Largent said. “The right to drive should be based on ability. Not age.”

He and other supporters point to Illinois Department of Transportation data.

“IDOT figures from 2018 to 2022 reveal that 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,” reads a 2023 report compiled by Giannoulias.

As it stands, Illinois requires a behind-the-wheel test when anyone 79 renews their license. Giannoulias advocates raising the age to 87. Older drivers would still face stricter requirements to keep their driving privileges. Under the proposed legislation:

  • Drivers aged 79 and 80 would have to visit a state facility in person to take a vision test and renew their license — but no longer would they have to automatically take a driving test.
  • Drivers aged 81-86 would have to visit a DMV every two years to renew their license and pass a vision test.
  • Once a driver reaches 87, driver’s licenses would have to be renewed each year, after passing vision and driving tests.
  • For each age bracket, a written exam would be part of the renewal process if a moving violation is on the driver’s record.

For drivers younger than 79, driver’s licenses can be renewed online every four years.

Giannoulias said he made the decision based on the IDOT statistics and maintains that even should the change become law, Illinois would still have some of the nation’s toughest laws.

“The benefit of this bill? To keep our roads safer,” Giannoulias said. “Older drivers tend to be safer drivers.”

He also said it could reduce wait times at secretary of state facilities.

Contact Amanda Vinicky: @AmandaVinicky[email protected]


Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors