Illinois has been the only state to require elderly drivers to take age-based driving tests. There are currently 350,000 drivers aged between 79 and 86 in Illinois. State data reveals elderly drivers have the lowest crash rate of all age groups. Drivers in Illinois aged 79 to 86 have just received a major reprieve thanks to Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. From July 1, the state will eliminate the need for drivers in this age bracket to undergo a driving test and instead raise the required age for a test to 87. Under Giannoulias’ Road Safety & Fairness Act, drivers aged 79 to 80 will be required to renew their licenses every 4 years and undergo a vision test, but will no longer be required to take a driving test. In addition, drivers aged 81-86 must have their licenses renewed in person every two years and must also sit a vision test. However, the previous driving test requirement for them has also been scrapped. Read: GM’s Latest Idea Is A Car That Tells Seniors It’s Time To Quit Driving Once an Illinois driver is 87 or older, they must have their license renewed annually, undergo a vision test, and pass a driving test. The state has said its prior age-based requirement for all drivers aged 79 and over to undergo a driving test was “outdated” and made Illinois the only state in the US requiring a “behind-the-wheel test solely because of a driver’s age.” State officials said the new law shifts the focus to whether someone can drive safely rather than how old they are. Are Older Drivers Safer? Illinois driver’s license sample (Illinois.gov). Currently, there are approximately 350,000 local drivers aged between 79 and 86 who will no longer be required to take age-based driving tests to prove they can still operate a car safely. State officials say roughly 55,000 drivers in this age group take a driving test each year. According to Giannoulias, “Illinois seniors have consistently proven they are among the safest drivers on our roads,” adding that “this law removes an unnecessary burden for older drivers while preserving strong safeguards to protect everyone who travels on our streets.” He also said the Road Safety & Fairness Act is about “replacing outdated assumptions with facts.” Data from the Illinois Department of Transportation says that drivers aged 75 and older had a crash rate of 25.54 per 1,000 licensed drivers in 2024, the lowest of any age group between 16 and 74. Lead image GM
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