Chapter 3: Drivers Under Age 21

Most students under the age of 18 learn how to drive in a high school or commercial Driver Education School Most students under the age of 18 learn how to drive in a high school or commercial Driver Education School Approved Driver Education Course consists of 30 classroom hours of study and 6 hours of behind the wheel driving Approved Driver Education Course consists of 30 classroom hours of study and 6 hours of behind the wheel driving

Obtaining an Instruction Permit Students may enroll in a Driver Education course at the age of Students may enroll in a Driver Education course at the age of Instruction permit is valid for 24 months Instruction permit is valid for 24 months Instruction permit must be held for nine months prior to obtaining a driver’s license if you are 16 years of age or older Instruction permit must be held for nine months prior to obtaining a driver’s license if you are 16 years of age or older Students must pass the written and vision test in order to receive your permit Students must pass the written and vision test in order to receive your permit

Obtaining an Instruction Permit Your instruction permit allows you to drive with the following: Your instruction permit allows you to drive with the following: Driver Education Instructor Driver Education Instructor Parent Parent Legal Guardian Legal Guardian Responsible adult 21 years of age, with a valid driver’s license for a year and parents have approved Responsible adult 21 years of age, with a valid driver’s license for a year and parents have approved The above must be occupying a seat next to you while driving The above must be occupying a seat next to you while driving

Obtaining an Instruction Permit The State of Illinois requires that you have at least 50 hours of behind the wheel training including 10 hours of night time driving at home The State of Illinois requires that you have at least 50 hours of behind the wheel training including 10 hours of night time driving at home In addition a student will drive 6 hour of behind the wheel driving at school In addition a student will drive 6 hour of behind the wheel driving at school

Cooperative Driver Testing Program Students who earn an A in the classroom and driving portion of the Driver Education Class have the opportunity to take the State Driving test with their Driving Instructor Students who earn an A in the classroom and driving portion of the Driver Education Class have the opportunity to take the State Driving test with their Driving Instructor Students whose birthday lands on a spot check date will still be required to take the drive test at the Driver’s Services Facility Students whose birthday lands on a spot check date will still be required to take the drive test at the Driver’s Services Facility

Graduated Driver Licensing Program Illinois Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program requires drivers ages to work their way to full driving privileges Illinois Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program requires drivers ages to work their way to full driving privileges There are three progressive stages There are three progressive stages Young drivers must earn the right to move from one phase to the next based on their driving behavior Young drivers must earn the right to move from one phase to the next based on their driving behavior

Permit Phase – Drivers Age 15 Nighttime driving restrictions Nighttime driving restrictions Sun-Thurs, 10 p.m.- 6 a.m. Sun-Thurs, 10 p.m.- 6 a.m. Fri-Sat, 11 p.m.- 6 a.m. Fri-Sat, 11 p.m.- 6 a.m. Permit must be held for a minimum of 9 month Permit must be held for a minimum of 9 month

Permit Phase - Drivers Age 15 Must practice driving a minimum of 50 hours, including 10 at night Must practice driving a minimum of 50 hours, including 10 at night Must not acquire any driving convictions during the nine-month permit phase Must not acquire any driving convictions during the nine-month permit phase

Permit Phase - Drivers Age 15 Number of passengers limited to one in the front seat and the number of safety belts in the back seat Number of passengers limited to one in the front seat and the number of safety belts in the back seat All occupants must wear seatbelts All occupants must wear seatbelts

Permit Phase – Drivers Age 15 Wireless/cell phone use while driving is prohibited for drivers under the age of 19 except in the case of an emergency Wireless/cell phone use while driving is prohibited for drivers under the age of 19 except in the case of an emergency

Initial Licensing Phase – Drivers Ages Nighttime driving restrictions Nighttime driving restrictions Sun-Thurs, 10 p.m.- 6 a.m. Sun-Thurs, 10 p.m.- 6 a.m. Fri-Sat, 11 p.m.- 6 a.m. Fri-Sat, 11 p.m.- 6 a.m. Must maintain a conviction-free driving record for six months prior to turning 18 Must maintain a conviction-free driving record for six months prior to turning 18

Initial Licensing Phase – Drivers Ages A traffic conviction during this phase may extend restrictions beyond age 18 A traffic conviction during this phase may extend restrictions beyond age 18 All occupants must wear safety belts All occupants must wear safety belts

Initial Licensing Phase – Drivers Ages For the first 12 months of licensing, or until the driver turns 18, the number of passengers is limited to one person under age 20, unless the passenger is a sibling/stepsibling For the first 12 months of licensing, or until the driver turns 18, the number of passengers is limited to one person under age 20, unless the passenger is a sibling/stepsibling After this period, the number of passengers is limited to one in the front seat and the number of safety belts in the back seat After this period, the number of passengers is limited to one in the front seat and the number of safety belts in the back seat

Initial Licensing Phase – Drivers Ages Wireless/cell phone use while driving is prohibited for drivers under age 19 except in the case of an emergecy Wireless/cell phone use while driving is prohibited for drivers under age 19 except in the case of an emergecy

Full Licensing Phase – Drivers Ages No age related restrictions apply except in cases where a driver fails to move from the Initial Licensing Phase to the Full Licensing Phase No age related restrictions apply except in cases where a driver fails to move from the Initial Licensing Phase to the Full Licensing Phase Wireless/Cell phone use while driving is prohibited for drivers under the age 19, except in the case of an emergency Wireless/Cell phone use while driving is prohibited for drivers under the age 19, except in the case of an emergency

Parental Responsibility Parental Consent Parental Consent Drivers ages must have the written consent of a parent/legal guardian to get a driver’s license Drivers ages must have the written consent of a parent/legal guardian to get a driver’s license This parent/legal guardian may cancel the minor’s license at any time until the age of 18 This parent/legal guardian may cancel the minor’s license at any time until the age of 18

Applying for Your Driver’s License Driver’s must bring the following documents to the Driver Services Facility when applying for a driver’s license Driver’s must bring the following documents to the Driver Services Facility when applying for a driver’s license Instruction permit Instruction permit Birth Certificate (Courthouse) Birth Certificate (Courthouse) Social Security Card Social Security Card Parent/Legal Guardian Parent/Legal Guardian Cooperative Driver Test Cooperative Driver Test 50-hour driving log 50-hour driving log

Related Laws Court Supervision for Moving Violations Court Supervision for Moving Violations Driver under age 21 is limited to one court supervision for serious traffic offenses Driver under age 21 is limited to one court supervision for serious traffic offenses To obtain court supervision, a driver must appear in court with a parent/legal guardian and must also attend traffic safety school To obtain court supervision, a driver must appear in court with a parent/legal guardian and must also attend traffic safety school

Related Laws Loss of Driving Privileges for Moving Violations Loss of Driving Privileges for Moving Violations Drivers under the age 21 convicted of two or more moving violations with a 24 month period will have their driver’s license suspended for a minimum of 30 days Drivers under the age 21 convicted of two or more moving violations with a 24 month period will have their driver’s license suspended for a minimum of 30 days

Related Laws Loss of Driving Privileges for Moving Violations (Continued) Loss of Driving Privileges for Moving Violations (Continued) Drivers may be required to complete a driver remedial course Drivers may be required to complete a driver remedial course A suspended driver may be eligible for a Restricted Driving Permit A suspended driver may be eligible for a Restricted Driving Permit

Related Laws Driver’s License Suspension for Alcohol Consumption Driver’s License Suspension for Alcohol Consumption A person under age 21 who receives court supervision for possession, consumption, purchase or receipt will receive a three month suspension of drivers license A person under age 21 who receives court supervision for possession, consumption, purchase or receipt will receive a three month suspension of drivers license A conviction will result in a six month suspension A conviction will result in a six month suspension