So, You Have a New Driver in the Family?!

by Lisa on July 23rd, 2017 at 2:22 PM

Before anything else, check out what is required to get a permit. cyberdriveillinois.com. Once issued an Illinois learner’s permit, a teen must drive conviction-free for 9 months before he or she is eligible for a driver’s license.
Illinois provides soon-to-be drivers with a Parent-Teen Driving Guide. It’s full of valuable advice on how to help your child gain confidence in driving.
Practice, practice, practice!
Remember that driving is similar to riding a bike, just the pedals are different and the vehicle is bigger!
Tell your teen to take a breath before they are about to turn left. If an approaching car is still a good distance away, it’s safe to turn left. If not, wait for the car to pass then turn. Safety first. No need to be in that big of a hurry.

Practice in school and college parking lots on weekends and nights. There might be a few other cars driving around, but it’s a relatively easy place to practice.
Church parking lots – have them practice pulling in and out of parking spaces. Look for both slanted and right angle parking spots. Explain to them how you know which lane to pull into based upon the slanted spaces if there are no arrows/signs.

In Illinois, 10 out of the 50 driving hours required for a license is expected to be night hours. Start small and work your way into this one. Start with streets where you live and then branch out. Next, try driving to the closest store or post office. As your driver feels more comfortable, try having him/her drive home from a practice. The Klints used this tactic in the winter since the sun set early. The night hours quickly totaled up!

Key concept to learn: the fine art of turning your head to check your blind spots.
The Whelpleys began with the promise of a shopping trip in Decatur — if he drove!
If you are planning a road trip within the state, plan on your teen doing some driving, especially if you are familiar with the area.
Wait to introduce the cruise control.

Illinois extended the permit phase from three months to nine months. This gives the novice driver more time to learn under the watchful eye of parents through the many weather conditions that are common throughout Illinois.
All drivers under the age of 18 are restricted from driving after 10 p.m. on weekdays and after 11 p.m. on weekends. Exemptions include nighttime travel to and from school activities and work.
A license holder must be in the front passenger seat when the permit driver is driving. If this is violated, the driver and the passengers get ticketed.
No more cars full of newly licensed teens! New drivers can only have a maximum of one unrelated teen passenger.
Cell phones – Illinois bans hand-held cell phone use for all drivers. All drivers of all ages are banned from texting and using a cell phone while driving. Only drivers 19 years old and over are permitted to use a hands-free device while operating a vehicle. One innovative option is the CellSlip which helps your driver with discipline of driving distraction-free. cellslip.com
Town/city curfews – check your municipality to know exactly what the rules are.

Illinois has a Graduated Driver License. Drivers ages 16-17 are in the Initial Licensing Phase once:

Parent/legal guardian certifies that their child has completed a minimum of 50 hours of practice driving, including 10 hours at night.
The teen must have completed a state-approved driver education course.
A parent/legal guardian must accompany the teen to provide written consent to obtain a driver’s license, OR complete and notarize an Affidavit/Consent for Minor to Drive form

At this Initial Licensing Stage:

Nighttime driving restrictions continue — no driving Sun.-Thurs., 10 p.m.-6 a.m. nor Fri.-Sat., 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (local curfews may be more restrictive).
The teen must maintain a conviction-free driving record for six months prior to turning 18 before moving to the Full Licensing Phase. A traffic conviction during the Initial Licensing Phase may extend restrictions beyond age 18.
All vehicle occupants must wear safety belts.
Cell phone use while driving including a hands free device, is prohibited for drivers under age 19, except in the case of an emergency.