Overview
The city's local driving environment is primarily rural. Illinois Route 4 serves Ava, and IDOT has documented highway improvements involving IL 4 through Ava, including pavement rehabilitation and shoulder improvements. (IDOT)
Who Must Take Adult Driver Education in Ava?
You generally must complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education Course if all three of these conditions apply:
You are 18, 19, or 20 years old.
You are applying for an Illinois driver's license for the first time.
You have never completed an approved driver education course through a high school or commercial driving school.
The requirement is statewide. Living in Ava does not create a separate local requirement.
The course must be completed through a provider certified by the Illinois Secretary of State. IllinoisAdultDriverEd.com is currently listed as an online Adult Driver Education provider by the Secretary of State.
Who Does Not Need the Six-Hour Course?
The six-hour adult course is not required in every licensing situation.
Applicants Under 18
Applicants under 18 follow Illinois' separate teen driver education and Graduated Driver Licensing requirements.
Most Applicants Age 21 or Older
The specific Adult Driver Education requirement applies to eligible first-time applicants ages 18, 19, and 20.
Applicants Who Already Completed Driver Education
If you successfully completed qualifying driver education through a high school or commercial driving school and can provide acceptable proof, you generally do not need to complete the six-hour adult course.
Previously Licensed Drivers
The requirement is directed at eligible first-time Illinois license applicants. It is not a general education requirement for every Illinois driver.
Drivers Transferring an Out-of-State License
A person moving to Illinois with a valid out-of-state driver's license does not take the six-hour Adult Driver Education Course solely because they are transferring their license.
Illinois Online Adult Driver Education
The Adult Driver Education Course is at least six hours of classroom or online instruction.
Topics include:
Illinois traffic laws
Signs, signals, and pavement markings
Risk-taking and poor decision-making
Impaired driving
Distracted driving
Cell phone and text-message risks
Speed
Safety-belt use
Night driving
Right-of-way
Common crash risks
A provider-administered written final test is part of the course. It is separate from the Illinois Secretary of State written examination required as part of the driver's license process.
After successful completion, the student receives a Certificate of Completion. The certificate confirms completion of the education requirement but does not itself provide driving privileges or issue a driver's license.
What the Course Includes
At least six hours of Adult Driver Education
Online instruction through a certified online provider
Illinois traffic-safety education
Traffic laws and roadway information
Signs, signals, and pavement markings
Distracted and impaired driving education
A provider-administered final written test
A Certificate of Completion after successful completion
What the Course Does Not Include
Behind-the-wheel instruction
Driving lessons with an instructor
The Illinois Secretary of State written examination
The Illinois Secretary of State road examination
A driver's license
Automatic authorization to drive
Illinois encourages adult applicants to obtain at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least 10 hours at night. This is practice guidance and is not part of the six-hour Adult Driver Education Course.
Ava Driving Conditions for New Drivers
Ava is a small city surrounded by rural portions of Jackson County. The local road environment can differ substantially from driving in Carbondale or another larger community.
Jackson County's Highway Department maintains 152 miles of county highways and 52 bridges. Its responsibilities include pavement repair, snow and ice control, traffic-control signs and lights, mowing, and drainage control. (Jackson County)
New drivers around Ava should be prepared for:
Rural roads with limited lighting
Curves and changing sight distances
Agricultural and work vehicles
Wildlife
Changing pavement conditions
Wet-weather driving
Winter precipitation
Longer distances between services
Primary Local Driving Topic: Rural Roads and Changing Conditions
Ava's location in northwestern Jackson County means that many trips quickly transition from city streets to rural roads.
A new driver should avoid treating a rural route like a city street. Rural roads can have fewer streetlights, fewer nearby services, narrower shoulders, and longer stretches without intersections.
Practical Safety Tips
Reduce speed before entering curves.
Look beyond the vehicle immediately ahead.
Keep additional following distance on wet or slippery roads.
Watch for farm and work equipment.
Be alert for deer and other wildlife.
Avoid distractions on unfamiliar roads.
Use headlights when visibility is reduced.
Do not assume a familiar road will have the same conditions during severe weather.
Illinois Route 4 Through Ava
Illinois Route 4 is an important state highway serving Ava. IDOT's recent highway program includes work on IL 4 through Ava, including pavement rehabilitation and shoulder improvements between IL 150 and IL 151. (IDOT)
For new drivers, state highways require greater awareness of through traffic, turning vehicles, changing speeds, and roadway work.
Drivers should pay attention to temporary signs and lane changes whenever construction or maintenance is underway.
Ava and Jackson County Rural Roads
County and township roads provide connections between Ava and surrounding communities. Jackson County identifies multiple township highway districts responsible for local roads in the area, including Kinkaid Township and Ora Township. (Jackson County)
The transition from a paved state highway to a smaller county or township road can change the driving environment quickly.
New drivers should adjust speed to the actual roadway rather than assuming that the posted speed limit is always the appropriate speed for the conditions.
Online Adult Driver Education for Ava Students
Eligible first-time Illinois license applicants living in Ava can complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education Course online through a certified provider.
The online course can be completed without traveling to a classroom. After completing the course and passing the provider's final test, the student receives a Certificate of Completion.
The next step is to prepare the required identification documents and visit an Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services facility.
Jackson County Driver Services Facility
The principal Driver Services facility serving Jackson County is the Carbondale Driver Services facility:
Carbondale Driver Services2516 W. Murphysboro RoadCarbondale, IL 62901
The current Secretary of State facility information lists first-time driver's license issuance, vision screening, written testing, and non-CDL road testing among its services. Road tests may be postponed or canceled when road, weather, or vehicle conditions are unsafe. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Because facility services and procedures can change, verify the current information through the Illinois Secretary of State Facility Finder before traveling.
Ava Adult Driver Education FAQ
Do I need Adult Driver Education if I live in Ava?
If you are 18, 19, or 20, are applying for your first Illinois driver's license, and have never completed qualifying driver education, you generally must complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education Course.
Can I take the course online from Ava?
Yes. Eligible applicants can complete the course online through a provider certified for online Adult Driver Education.
How long is the course?
The Adult Driver Education Course is at least six hours long.
Does the course include driving lessons?
No. The six-hour course is an education requirement and does not include behind-the-wheel instruction.
Is the provider final test the Illinois written test?
No. The provider's final test is separate from the Secretary of State written examination.
What happens after I finish?
You receive a Certificate of Completion. Download and print it and bring it with your required identification documents when you visit a Driver Services facility.
Is there a Driver Services facility in Ava?
The current statewide Secretary of State facility directory does not list a Driver Services facility in Ava. Carbondale is the principal Jackson County facility. (Illinois Secretary of State)
What should new drivers know about Ava roads?
Drivers should be prepared for a mixture of city streets, state highways, county roads, rural conditions, agricultural activity, wildlife, and changing weather.
Does Illinois recommend supervised driving practice?
Yes. Illinois encourages at least 50 hours of supervised practice, including at least 10 hours at night. This is not part of the six-hour adult course.
Do applicants under 18 take this course?
No. Applicants under 18 follow Illinois' teen licensing and driver education requirements.
Start Your Ava Adult Driver Education Course Online
If you are an eligible first-time Illinois driver's license applicant age 18, 19, or 20, you can complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education Course online through a Secretary of State-certified provider.
Complete the course and provider-administered final test, receive your Certificate of Completion, and continue with the Illinois licensing process at a Driver Services facility.