SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 24 (UPI) -- The Illinois House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill that would impose some of the nation's toughest restrictions on teen drivers.
The bill, which goes to the governor for approval, includes a tripling of the required learner's permit phase before a teenager can get a full license, The Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.
"This bill is about the safety of 16-year-old drivers everywhere in the state of Illinois," said state Rep. John D'Amico, D-Chicago, who sponsored the bill. He said the bill "has been long overdue. I think ... we're going to see a lot of states throughout our country duplicate what we've done."
The proposed law, which would affect about 300,000 teens in Illinois, would also double passenger limit time frames for 16- and 17-year-old drivers and increase night driving limitations.
"We're talking about tough love here and we have to start early on teaching our young people the rules of the road," said Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who has championed the bill.
