Newly proposed legislation by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White aims to improve the Illinois Driver Licensing Program that governs drivers up to the age of 21. White proposed the legislation because traffic crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers.

White convened a task force of legislators, traffic safety experts, law enforcement officials, and victim advocates who studied ways in which Illinois could strengthen teen driving laws. White’s legislative proposal is based on the recommendations from this task force.

According to White, the legislation will help save teenage lives; he stated, “We’re going to do it by way of giving young people more experience behind the wheel and getting their parents more involved.”

White expressed confidence about the bill’s chances in the legislature. He further stated that he would work to persuade lawmakers to give school districts the funding they need so schools could provide more hours of street driving instruction.

Many Glenbrook South students feel this is too restrictive and unfair. According to sophomore Abbey Perl, it should be the parents’ job to impose curfew times.

Sophomore Geoff McDermott agreed; he said, “Kids are out past curfew anyway, so why make something that everybody does a crime?”

Allie Zimmerman, staff reporter