Driving In Illinois

This page provides the basic rules of the road for driving in Illinois.

Telephone Numbers
In an emergency dial 911.

Speed Limits
Speed limits are measured in miles per hour (MPH).

Rural Interstates	65mph/104kph
Urban Interstates	55mph/88kph
Urban Districts	30mph/48kph
Other Limited Access Roads	65mph/104kph

Driving Tips and Road Information
Illinois amasses a region that stretches from Lake Michigan in the north down to the Mississippi River in the south; the state capital is Springfield and another well recognised city of the state is Chicago. The landscape of Illinois comprises a contrast between serene countryside and the busy uptown ambience.

Climate Information:

• Spring - Spring time sometimes brings with it tornado weather in Central Illinois.
• Summer - Hot and humid.
• Autumn/Fall - Milder temperatures, a good time to visit to see the changing colours of nature.
• Winter - Temperatures can change very rapidly in winter; it is generally very cold, especially when exacerbated by the wind chill factor which is often considerable.  Central Illinois often experiences ice storms in winter.

For an up to date weather forecast visit the Weather Central or visit the Weather Channel website.

Car Rental:
It is normally possible for foreign visitors to use their native driving licence within the U.S.A. for a period of up to one year. Be aware that the minimum age permissible to rent a car is generally 21 years, and in some instances 25 years.  Often there are additional costs involved if you are a young driver between 21 and 25. Most car rental companies in the U.S.A. require you to have held your licence for a minimum of one year.  You will need a valid credit card for payment. If you are going to rent a car, it is wise to clarify the details and requirements prior to your departure to avoid any problems.

Insurance:
It is difficult to find companies who will insure foreign visitors, because of the issues surrounding assessment of previous driving record.  For this reason, you will be treated as if you have no previous driving experience, and the cost will be high as a consequence.
Insurance companies who do sell auto insurance to foreign visitors:
American Financial Group: (513) 579-6739: www.amfnl.com
GMAC Insurance: (800) 468-3466: www.gmacfs.com
Orion Auto Insurance Co: (800) 334-0090: www.orionauto.com/orionauto
Progressive Insurance Co: (800) 288-6776: www.progressive.com
If you are staying for 6 months or more you can reduce insurance premiums by getting an American drivers licence.
If you have a rental/hire car, insurance is much more economical and will not incur higher insurance rates.  For this you will need to be over 21 years, hold a valid driving licence from your own country, present your passport and have a major, recognised, credit card.

Disabled Drivers:
Many major rental car companies, including Budget, Avis and Hertz offer hand controlled vehicles to disabled drivers. The American Association of People with Disabilities website has various resources. For useful links to a variety of sites visit the Planet Amber website.

Alcohol:
The legal drinking age in Illinois is 21. When driving in Illinois you are subject to an implied consent law whereby if you are thought to be driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol you automatically agree to undergo breath, blood and/or urine tests if required by the authorities. Blood tests must be performed by a medical practitioner.
It is illegal for anyone travelling in a vehicle to be consuming alcohol; both the driver of the vehicle and the passengers may be found to be committing a traffic violation. Exemptions to this are those travelling in chartered buses, limousines or motor homes, in any other vehicles it is illegal to have any opened alcohol containers in the passenger area of a vehicle. 
Do not drink and drive.

Road conditions:
Interstate highways are straight and flat with good driving conditions generally with the exception of winter time when any route can be made treacherous by ice and snow conditions, particularly rural roads. For up to date road conditions information visit the Illinois Department of Transportation or call 1-800-452-4368 locally for pre-recorded information.
Things to see:

• Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail - for hiking, cycling, fishing, cross country skiing and impressive scenery.
• Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford - for the 16th century teahouse, waterfalls and koi ponds.
• Starved Rock Utica - for eagle watching, waterfalls, canyons and horse riding.
• Wildlife Prairie Park, Peoria - to see wolves, bison, waterfowl, black bears, elk, cougar, bobcats and otters.
• Amishland’s Country Village, Tuscola - to experience a taste of the Amish culture.
• Cahokia Mounds, Collinsville - for the only prehistoric Native American city north of Mexico.
• Fort De Chartres, Prarie Du Rocher - for the French colonial fort, the oldest building in Illinois.
• Chicago - for the Sears Tower, the highest building in the United States, and the Navy Pier for a hub of entertainment, shops, parks and boat rides.

Highways:
The Great River Road runs along the entire border of Western Illinois.

• Interstate 39 - Runs from Bloomington north to connect with Route 90 near Rockford.
• Interstate 55 - Runs from St.Louis in Missouri north to Springfield, on to Springfield and Chicago.
• Interstate 57 - Runs from border at the southern tip of the state north towards Mount Vernon, Effingham, Champagne and on to Chicago.
• Interstate 64 - Runs across southern tip of Illinois between border with Indiana north of Carmi and St.Louis in Missouri.
• Interstate 70 - Runs across Illinois from St.Louis in Missouri to the border with Indiana at Terre Haute.
• Interstate 72 - Runs across Illinois between Missouri towards Springfield and Champagne.
• Interstate 74 - Runs from North West near Moline towards Peoria, Bloomington, Champagne into Indiana near Danville.
• Interstate 80 - Runs from Iowa near Moline towards Sterling, Dixon, Naperville and Chicago.

Safety
Driving safety:

1. Drive with vehicle doors locked and windows at least three quarters closed.
2. Keep luggage and packages in the boot/trunk of the vehicle.
3. Don’t pick up hitchhikers.
4. If your car breaks down, put the bonnet/hood up, tie something white to the aerial or car handle and get back in the car; ask anyone who stops to call the police for you, don’t get out of the vehicle until the police are with you.
5. If you see someone with vehicle trouble, do not stop yourself, note their location and call the police from a safe location.

Precautions in winter:

1. Drive with caution in winter.
2. In rain use dimmed headlights, in fog use dimmed headlights or fog lights.
3. If you come across a snow plough, keep two car lengths behind it for every 10mph of speed you are driving at. Don’t pass a snow plow unless extremely necessary.
4. If passing a snow plow becomes necessary, pick a clear stretch of road and keep well clear of the spraying snow. After you have passed, ensure you are well clear of the front of the plough before pulling back in.
5. Don’t break erratically in front of a plow as they cannot stop suddenly.
6. Exert extreme caution around potentially icy areas, e.g. bridges and overpasses.
7. If you are ever stranded in a desolate area judge carefully whether you should leave the vehicle to get help, if temperatures are very low you should remain inside the vehicle and keep warm by moving around as much as possible or sharing body warmth. If the engine is working, switch it on intermittently for short intervals only to heat the vehicle. Ensure there is always one person in the vehicle awake.
8. Before winter journeys ensure the car windows, mirrors and lights are clear and that anti freeze is topped up.
9. Ensure that you are prepared for bad weather by checking weather forecasts before you set off and carrying emergency supplies to include:

• Sleeping bag(s)
• Food and water
• Torch (flashlight) with batteries
• A rope or chain

General safety:
Exert a sensible degree of caution for your own personal safety:

1. Don’t walk alone, especially at night.
2. Be cautious if strangers approach you on the street.
3. Be aware of your personal possessions, don’t have valuables on show.
4. If someone tries to snatch your bag, throw it on the street or upturn it and empty the contents on the floor.
5. If you are accosted shout ‘Fire’ rather than ‘Rape’ or ‘Help’.

Requirements

Driving licences:
In the U.S.A you are not required to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) if you hold a valid driving licence, although often you are required to have held your licence for a minimum of one year. In the U.S.A and Canada driving licence’s include the drivers photograph, so if you are from a country where this is not the case it is wise to also carry your passport to avoid any unnecessary complications or delays should you have to produce it. If you are from the U.K. remember to take both parts of your driving licence (photo card and paper licence with the further details).

Visas:
The U.S.A participates in the Visa Waiver Pilot Program, whereby if you are visiting for a period of 90 days or less for the purpose of tourism or business you will not require a visa.  The countries who qualify are: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
All other visitors are not exempt from carrying a visa.

Useful Links and Further Information
If you are looking for car rental in Illinois we recommend Hertz Car Rental.
For further information on winter driving conditions in Illinois visit the Icepack website.

Local Tourism:
For further information about Illinois visit the Illinois tourism website. For further information about the Illinois and Michigan Canal region visit the Heritage Corridor website.

Maps:
For an Illinois road map with search and route planning tools, visit the Illinois tourism website pages at: http://www.enjoyillinois.com/roadmap.html.
If you need maps of Illinois then try Maps Worldwide, who have a comprehensive range of maps for sale.

Important Note: Each state has different driving laws, be sure to look up the individual laws. If you drive in the USA, remember that each of the 50 states has its own set of traffic laws and regulations. Fortunately, most of the laws are the same, but some states have slightly different rules. When you rent a car, you should ask the agent if there are any special driving rules in that state. When driving in multiple states, check a tour book for any special driving rules in each state.