Bill Text: IL SB0947 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State shall include, in each registration renewal notice, information advising drivers of how to properly approach a stationary authorized emergency vehicle. Provides that the Secretary shall include, in the question pool used for the written portion of the driver's license examination, test questions concerning safe driving when approaching authorized emergency vehicles.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Failed) 2021-01-13 - Session Sine Die [SB0947 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-SB0947-Engrossed.html

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AN ACT concerning transportation.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing
Sections 2-112 and 6-109 as follows:
(625 ILCS 5/2-112) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 2-112)
Sec. 2-112. Distribution of synopsis laws.
(a) The Secretary of State may publish a synopsis or
summary of the laws of this State regulating the operation of
vehicles and may deliver a copy thereof without charge with
each original vehicle registration and with each original
driver's license.
(b) The Secretary of State shall make any necessary
revisions in its publications including, but not limited to,
the Illinois Rules of the Road, to accurately conform its
publications to the provisions of the Pedestrians with
Disabilities Safety Act.
(c) The Secretary of State shall include, in the Illinois
Rules of the Road publication, information advising drivers to
use the Dutch Reach method when opening a vehicle door after
parallel parking on a street (checking the rear-view mirror,
checking the side-view mirror, then opening the door with the
right hand, thereby reducing the risk of injuring a bicyclist

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or opening the door in the path a vehicle approaching from
behind).
(d) The Secretary of State shall include, in each
registration renewal notice, information advising drivers to
abide by subsection (c) of Section 11-907 of this Code when
approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle.
(Source: P.A. 100-770, eff. 1-1-19; 100-962, eff. 1-1-19.)
(625 ILCS 5/6-109)
Sec. 6-109. Examination of Applicants.
(a) The Secretary of State shall examine every applicant
for a driver's license or permit who has not been previously
licensed as a driver under the laws of this State or any other
state or country, or any applicant for renewal of such driver's
license or permit when such license or permit has been expired
for more than one year. The Secretary of State shall, subject
to the provisions of paragraph (c), examine every licensed
driver at least every 8 years, and may examine or re-examine
any other applicant or licensed driver, provided that during
the years 1984 through 1991 those drivers issued a license for
3 years may be re-examined not less than every 7 years or more
than every 10 years.
The Secretary of State shall require the testing of the
eyesight of any driver's license or permit applicant who has
not been previously licensed as a driver under the laws of this
State and shall promulgate rules and regulations to provide for

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the orderly administration of all the provisions of this
Section.
The Secretary of State shall include at least one test
question that concerns the provisions of the Pedestrians with
Disabilities Safety Act in the question pool used for the
written portion of the driver's drivers license examination
within one year after July 22, 2010 (the effective date of
Public Act 96-1167).
The Secretary of State shall include, in the question pool
used for the written portion of the driver's license
examination, test questions concerning safe driving in the
presence of bicycles, of which one may be concerning the Dutch
Reach method as described in Section 2-112.
The Secretary of State shall include, in the question pool
used for the written portion of the driver's license
examination, test questions concerning safe driving when
approaching authorized emergency vehicles, as described in
Section 11-907.
(b) Except as provided for those applicants in paragraph
(c), such examination shall include a test of the applicant's
eyesight, his or her ability to read and understand official
traffic control devices, his or her knowledge of safe driving
practices and the traffic laws of this State, and may include
an actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to exercise
ordinary and reasonable control of the operation of a motor
vehicle, and such further physical and mental examination as

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the Secretary of State finds necessary to determine the
applicant's fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely on the
highways, except the examination of an applicant 75 years of
age or older shall include an actual demonstration of the
applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable
control of the operation of a motor vehicle. All portions of
written and verbal examinations under this Section, excepting
where the English language appears on facsimiles of road signs,
may be given in the Spanish language and, at the discretion of
the Secretary of State, in any other language as well as in
English upon request of the examinee. Deaf persons who are
otherwise qualified are not prohibited from being issued a
license, other than a commercial driver's license, under this
Code.
(c) Re-examination for those applicants who at the time of
renewing their driver's license possess a driving record devoid
of any convictions of traffic violations or evidence of
committing an offense for which mandatory revocation would be
required upon conviction pursuant to Section 6-205 at the time
of renewal shall be in a manner prescribed by the Secretary in
order to determine an applicant's ability to safely operate a
motor vehicle, except that every applicant for the renewal of a
driver's license who is 75 years of age or older must prove, by
an actual demonstration, the applicant's ability to exercise
reasonable care in the safe operation of a motor vehicle.
(d) In the event the applicant is not ineligible under the

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provisions of Section 6-103 to receive a driver's license, the
Secretary of State shall make provision for giving an
examination, either in the county where the applicant resides
or at a place adjacent thereto reasonably convenient to the
applicant, within not more than 30 days from the date said
application is received.
(e) The Secretary of State may adopt rules regarding the
use of foreign language interpreters during the application and
examination process.
(Source: P.A. 100-770, eff. 1-1-19; 100-962, eff. 1-1-19;
revised 10-3-18.)