Section 1030.85  Driver's License Testing/Road Test

 

a)         Classification of licenses is established in Section 1030.30.

 

b)         Persons applying for a Class C or Class D (CDL or Non-CDL) driver's license, a religious organization restriction, for-profit ridesharing arrangement restriction, or senior citizen transportation restriction in a First Division vehicle who are required by IVC Section 6-109 to complete a road test shall be evaluated on the following driving skills:  start, posture, use of mirrors, steering, lane observance, right-of-way, left and right turns (signal, speed, lane, turn), attention (distraction level), following (too closely), speed (too fast/too slow), parking (up and/or down hill), starting (up and/or down hill), final park, signal (pulling into and away from curb, changing lanes), stop signs, other signs (yield, school, railroad, regulatory, warning, special), traffic lights, backing, turn about, and use of clutch or automatic transmission.

 

c)         In addition to those maneuvers listed in subsection (b), persons applying for a Class A or B driver's license (CDL) shall also be evaluated on the following: 

 

1)         Pre-Trip Inspection − the applicant shall demonstrate skills necessary to conduct a pre-trip inspection, which include the ability to: 

 

A)        locate and verbally identify air brake operating controls and monitoring devices;

 

B)        determine the motor vehicle's brake system condition for proper adjustments and that the air system connections between vehicles have been properly made and secured;

 

C)        inspect low pressure warning devices to ensure they will activate in emergency situations;

 

D)        ascertain, with the engine running, that the system contains an adequate supply of compressed air;

 

E)        determine that the required minimum air pressure build up at the time is within acceptable limits and that required alarms and emergency devices automatically deactivate at the proper pressure level; and

 

F)         operationally check the brake system for proper performance.

 

2)         Vehicle skills test that shall include dock parking, straight line backing, stopping at a marked line, and predetermined right turn.

 

3)         Additional road test driving skills of use of gears, railroad crossing, expressway, bridge, and underpass.

 

d)         In addition to those maneuvers listed in subsection (b), persons applying for a Class A or B driver's license (non-CDL) shall also be evaluated on straight line backing.

 

e)         In addition to those maneuvers listed in subsection (c), persons applying for a school bus driver permit must complete a road test in a representative vehicle, which shall consist of the following:  use of gears, railroad crossing (stop and observation), curb bus (simulate loading/unloading passengers), use of stop arm, and use of flasher lights.  This paragraph does not apply to a person applying for a school bus driver permit who holds a valid CDL or CDL expired 30 days or less issued by another state with a passenger (P) and school bus (S) endorsement.

 

f)         Applicants for a Class L or Class M driver's license who are required to complete a road test shall be evaluated by using of the following drive tests:  ALMOST – Alternate Motorcycle Operator Skill Test; 5-dot test; and Offstreet Illinois Department of Transportation Motorcycle Operator Skill Test.

 

1)         Test exercises for the ALMOST and Offstreet Illinois Department of Transportation Motorcycle Operation Skill Test, for both Class L and Class M, shall consist of the following:  stalling (improper shift, failure to shift), sharp turn (path, foot down), normal stop (skid, position), cone weave (skips, hits, foot down), U-Turn (path, foot down), quick stop (distance), obstacle turn (path), slow drive (time, path, foot down).

 

2)         Test exercises for the 5-dot test, for both Class L and Class M, shall consist of the following:  knowledge of controls, figure U Walk (walk vehicle without engine running), start from rest, slow drive, gear shifting skill, figure 8 ride, serpentine ride (balanced cone weave), posture, mounting/dismounting.

 

g)         Test exercises and skills are evaluated on a point system. When the applicant commits an error, a point or points are assessed based upon the severity of the error. Applicants for a CDL or Non-CDL Class A, B, C, or D license or a religious organization vehicle restriction, for-profit ridesharing arrangement restriction or senior citizen transportation restriction are allowed 36 points. Applicants for a Second Division school bus permit are allowed 40 points. Applicants for a First Division school bus permit are allowed 36 points. Applicants for a Class L or M license taking the ALMOST or Offstreet Illinois Department of Transportation Motorcycle Operation Skill Test evaluation shall be allowed 11 points. Applicants for an L or M license taking the 5-dot test shall be allowed seven points.

 

h)         The following acts will result in immediate disqualification:  a violation in which an applicant receives a ticket; a dangerous action; lack of cooperation or refusal to perform; or letting the cycle fall or falling off a cycle.

 

i)          A road test will be considered incomplete for the following reasons:  the applicant becomes ill or disabled and is unable to continue the road test; the vehicle develops mechanical problems after the road test has begun; weather conditions make the continuation of the road test hazardous; or an accident occurs for which the applicant does not receive a ticket.

 

j)          No persons are allowed to accompany the applicant and examiner on the road test. When necessary, exceptions may be made for any applicants who may require a translator and for the training and evaluation of facility personnel.

 

k)         Any applicant who is suspected by a Driver Services Facility employee of having consumed alcohol or drugs must seek the approval of a Driver Services Facility manager prior to being administered the road test. If a Driver Services Facility manager has reasonable cause to believe that an applicant has consumed alcohol or drugs, the applicant shall not be administered the road test. Evidence of alcohol or drug consumption shall include, but not be limited to, one or more of the following conditions: 

 

1)         the applicant admits to having consumed alcohol or drugs;

 

2)         there is a strong odor of alcohol on the applicant's breath;

 

3)         the applicant's eyes are red and the pupils are dilated;

 

4)         the applicant's speech is slurred; or

 

5)         the applicant is unsteady when walking.

 

l)          All persons applying for a CDL shall be required to successfully complete the examinations set forth in subsections (c) and (d) pursuant to IVC Section 6-508(a)(1).  The requirement of this subsection (l) shall not apply to persons renewing their Illinois CDL, persons who hold a valid CDL issued by another state in the same or higher classification for which they are making application, or persons holding an Illinois CLP who successfully completed federally approved CDL training and testing in another CDL certified state.

 

m)        Military personnel are exempt from the CDL administered pre-trip, skills, and road test (excluding school bus and passenger endorsements) if:

 

1)         In the two-year period immediately prior to application for a CDL the applicant has not:

 

A)        had more than one license, except for a military-issued driver's license;

 

B)        had any driver's license suspended, revoked, or cancelled;

 

C)        had any convictions in any type of motor vehicle for the disqualifying offenses contained in 49 CFR 383.51(b) (October 1, 2012);

 

D)        had more than one conviction in any type of motor vehicle for a serious traffic violation contained in 49 CFR 383.51(c) (October 1, 2012); and

 

E)        had any conviction for a violation of military, State, or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control (other than a parking violation) arising in connection with any traffic accident and has no record of an accident in which the applicant was at fault.

 

2)         The applicant certifies that:

 

A)        the applicant is regularly employed or was regularly employed within the last 12 months in a military position requiring operation of a commercial motor vehicle;

 

B)        the applicant was exempted from the CDL requirements of 49 CFR 383.3(c) (October 1, 2012); and

 

C)        the applicant was operating a vehicle representative of the commercial motor vehicle the applicant operates or expects to operate for at least the two years immediately preceding discharge from the military.

 

3)         The applicant submits a completed Secretary of State CDL-ST WVR form, including signature of the applicant's commanding officer.

 

n)         The use of any recording device, including but not limited to cell phones, cameras, tape recorders, or video recorders, is prohibited during the administration of a road test. If an examiner discovers a recording device is in use during the road test, the examiner shall ask the applicant to stop the recording device and delete any recordings of the road test. If the applicant refuses to do so, the examiner shall immediately terminate the road test and the applicant will be deemed to have failed the road test.

 

o)         Except as provided otherwise in this subsection (o), every applicant age 79 or older applying to renew a driver's license must prove, by actual demonstration, the applicant's ability to exercise reasonable care in the safe operation of a motor vehicle.  Every applicant for a renewal of a CDL who is 75 years of age or older must prove, by actual demonstration, the applicant's ability to exercise reasonable care in the safe operation of a commercial motor vehicle. (See Section 37 of the Secretary of State Act [15 ILCS 305] and Section 6-109 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.)

 

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 2268, effective January 25, 2024)