'These are our safest drivers:' Alexi Giannoulias champions bill to raise the mandatory drivers test age from 79 to 87

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is championing a state Democratic plan to raise the age of a required drivers test from 79 to 87.

Alongside that, the proposal would also allow concerned family members to report their senior relatives to the Secretary of State's office if they're driving with a cognitive illness such as dementia or Alzheimer's.

Giannoulias has received bipartisan support for the plan. In a press conference celebrating the bill passing a senate committee, the Secretary of State said this age group consists of Illinois safest drivers.

"When was the last time you saw a senior citizen gunning it past you checking her social media going 100 miles an hour?" Giannoulias said. "I mean the data an anecdotally the evidence bears out that senior citizens tend to be safe drivers."

Current law requires anyone above the age of 79 to pass a behind the wheel driving test each time they renew their license. State Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) said Illinois is the only state with this kind of mandate.

"The crash rate for Illinois drivers 75 or older is lower than every other age range and drivers 75 or older were involved in fewer other crashes than any other age group," Villivalam said.

With the plan passing the Senate transportation committee unanimously, the bill will head to the Senate floor. If it passes there, it will go to the Governor office to be signed.