Lawmakers have introduced a bill this year that aims to eliminate behind-the-wheel road tests for senior citizens seeking to renew their driver’s license.
State Representative Jeff Keicher, a Republican from Sycamore, has taken action at the beginning of the 2024 legislative session by introducing House Bill 4431. This bill aims to address the perceived challenge posed by the road test requirement for drivers aged 75 and above, which Keicher considers to be an excessive obstacle.
According to Keicher, the statistics from the National Safety Council do not provide evidence to justify the requirement of a road test for senior citizens.
He asserted, “According to the National Safety Council report, the number of drivers involved in fatal crashes decreases as the driver’s age increases.”
Seniors are involved in the fewest crashes when it comes to fatal incidents. They tend to avoid long-distance driving and limit their runs to essentials like the grocery store and doctor’s visits. This behavior contributes to the lower number of accidents among this demographic. However, other demographics may present a different picture, as Keicher explains.
He mentioned that seniors rank higher when measuring it by per 100,000 miles driven.
According to Keicher, the road test requirement is discriminatory based on age rather than a person’s health or driving ability. He believes that this practice is unfair and biased.
According to him, if a senior has a specific medical condition that justifies the revocation of their license, a doctor can report it.
The bill is currently on hold for an amendment that aims to implement stricter renewal requirements for drivers of all ages, rather than singling out seniors.
According to Rep. Keicher, his amendment aims to clarify that individuals with tickets or accidents should be the ones subjected to the higher threshold. He believes that by intervening at a young age and promoting safer driving practices, everyone will benefit.
Both Republicans and Democrats are finding popularity in shifting the attention away from seniors, as evidenced by their co-sponsorship of the bill. When a bill garners bipartisan support, it increases the chances of it being successfully passed into law.
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