SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law Friday to educate more drivers about vehicles transporting hazardous materials. The legislation was filed in direct response to the tragic accident in Teutopolis that killed five people and left 11 others injured last fall.
Sponsors hope this change can help drivers know that they should take more caution when they see vehicles transporting hazardous materials.
The law requires the Illinois Secretary of State to include education on hazardous material placards in the Illinois Rules of the Road book students read during driver education courses.
Local lawmakers hope this change can help young drivers know they need to drive more cautious.
"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 decided to pass," said Rep. CD Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville).Â
Davidsmeyer and Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) said this is a commonsense plan that can save many lives.
"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.
The new law will take effect January 1.
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