SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois House unanimously passed a plan Monday to educate more drivers about vehicles transporting hazardous materials following the tragic accident in Teutopolis that killed five people and left 11 others injured last October.
This proposal could require the Secretary of State to include education on hazardous material placards in the Illinois Rules of the Road book students read during driver education courses.Â
Local lawmakers hope this change can help young drivers know they need to drive more cautious.
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"We have to include hazardous material placards so they know that when they get around larger trucks or larger vehicles that have these hazardous material placards that they should be a little bit more careful as they decide to pass," said Rep. CD Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville).
Davidsmeyer and Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) said this commonsense bill can save many lives.Â
"My hope is that drivers, especially young drivers, will be educated on how deadly even minor crashes can be that involve vehicles hauling hazardous materials," McClure said.
Senate Bill 3406 passed unanimously out of the Senate on April 12. The legislation now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk for his signature of approval.
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