IL SB1642

Requires driver education courses in Illinois high schools to include instruction on bicycle and pedestrian safety beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, covering safe passing of cyclists, urban driving considerations, intersection navigation, and vehicle door exiting procedures.

Mandates high school driver education curriculum include minimum 30 clock hours of classroom instruction and 6 clock hours of behind-the-wheel instruction in dual control vehicles on public roadways.

Requires safety education instruction in grades 1-8 equivalent to one class period per week, with grades 10-12 emphasizing safe motor vehicle operation, distracted driving awareness, and law enforcement traffic stop procedures.

Directs the Secretary of State to include bicycle and pedestrian safety information in the Illinois Rules of the Road publication, including instruction on the Dutch Reach method for safely opening vehicle doors.

Allows school districts to contract with licensed commercial driver training schools to provide driver education courses without requesting State Board waivers, subject to public hearing approval and instructor credentialing requirements.