Legislation championed by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and AARP Illinois that makes roads safer and removes age barriers to align Illinois with the rest of the nation was signed into law recently. The Road Safety & Fairness Act (HB 1226), introduced by State Senator Ram Villivalam (8th District – Chicago) and State Representative Jay Hoffman (113th District – Belleville), passed the Illinois House and Senate chambers unanimously during the General Assembly’s Spring session earlier this year. The legislation, which passed with 70 percent of lawmakers signing on as co-sponsors, takes effect on July 1, 2026. The legislation creates new procedures aimed at preventing unsafe motorists – regardless of age – from driving by enabling immediate relatives to report a decline in cognitive or medical issues to the state for review. Under the Road Safety & Fairness Act, behind-the-wheel driving test requirements will be amended as follows:

• Drivers ages 79 and 80 will still be required to visit a DMV facility if they need to renew their driver’s license and take a vision test (and a written test if a driving violation exists) but would not have to take a driving test.

• Drivers between the ages of 81 and 86 will still be required to visit a DMV facility to renew their license every two years, which is a shorter renewal period than most drivers, which is every four years. They will still be required to take a vision test (and a written test if a driving violation exists) but will not have to take a driving test.

• Drivers aged 87 and older will continue to be required to renew their license annually. These renewals will include a vision test and a driving test. A written exam may be required depending on the individual’s driving record. The law governing this age group will not change under the new law.