Springfield, IL – State Senator Michael Frerichs' (D-Gifford) Senate Bill 1557 obtained the unanimous approval of the Senate Education Committee recently. The legislation addresses the need for driver's education courses to tackle the issue of distracted driving.

The bill would require high school driver education courses to include classroom instruction on distracted driving as a major traffic safety issue. The bill was proposed in response to a fatal accident that occurred in Champaign County when a teen driver, who was downloading ring tones to her cell phone, struck and killed bicyclist Matthew Wilhelm.

"There has been an increase nationwide of tragic traffic accidents occurring because drivers are focusing too much on non-driving related tasks, such as using a cell phone or other devices," said Senator Frerichs. "This bill encourages schools to warn students about the dangers of distracted driving in their driver’s education curriculum."

The legislation now moves to the full Senate for action.