Section 1060.70  Driver Training School Course of Instruction

a)         A minimum of 6 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction must be offered to each student who enrolls in any driver training school.  If a student declines the classroom instruction, the school shall secure a signed statement from the student on forms prescribed by the Department, wherein such student states that he has been offered the 6 hours of classroom instruction and declines the instruction.  The statements shall be kept with the student's instruction records.

b)         Classroom instruction shall be made available at least once each calendar month for students currently enrolled in the school and shall include instruction in safe driving practices in the operation of motor vehicles.

c)         The minimum of 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction shall consist of actual driving practice while in a motor vehicle.  Instruction given while the vehicle is parked shall not be recorded or be considered as classroom instruction.  Behind-the-wheel instruction must only be given in a motor vehicle owned or leased by the Driver Training School which has been safety inspected by the Illinois Department of Transportation and has insurance which has been certified by the Department. If a student declines the behind-the-wheel instruction, the school shall secure a signed statement from the student, on forms prescribed by the Department, wherein such student states he has been offered the 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction and declines the instruction.  The statements shall be kept with the student's instruction records.

d)         The minimum of 6 hours of classroom instruction shall be offered to all students enrolled for a regular course in any driver training school. Time spent by a student operating a driving simulator under the supervision of a licensed instructor may be counted as classroom instruction time, provided the student receives at least 4 hours of lectures or other instruction on safe driving practices.

e)         Students enrolled in a short review course need not comply with the minimum requirements stated above; however, no driver training school shall offer a short review course to any student who has never had a valid driver's license or a course in driver training and instruction which meets the minimum requirements prescribed above.

f)         Behind-the-wheel driving lessons, observation lessons, travel time, or any combination thereof, shall not exceed 3 hours in length for any student in any 24 hour period, excluding time spent at a Driver Services facility for testing purposes.  If more than one student is present in the training car (e.g., one student behind-the-wheel, one observing), the total combined time should not exceed 3 hours, excluding time spent at a Driver Services Facility for testing purposes. A driver training school providing training for a commercial driver's license is exempt from this requirement.

g)         Each driver training school must submit an "Enhanced Instruction Report" on a form prescribed by the Department showing the name, address, and number of behind-the-wheel instruction periods taken for every student who has had 25 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction.  A supplementary "Enhanced Instruction Report" must be submitted after each additional 10 hours of instruction and a final report must be submitted within 5 days after any such student completes his instruction.  A driver training school providing training for a commercial driver's license is exempt from this requirement.

h)         A student must possess a current or valid instruction permit or valid driver's license unless exempted as provided by law during each and every behind-the-wheel lesson.

i)          The commercial driver training school instructor shall be responsible for verifying that each student has a valid instruction permit during each and every behind-the-wheel lesson.

(Source:  Amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 4295, effective March 20, 2013)