Overview
The local driving environment is more developed than in much of rural Jackson County. Carbondale is served by U.S. Route 51, Illinois Route 13, Illinois Route 127, Giant City Road, and a network of city streets.
Who Must Take Adult Driver Education?
You generally must complete the six-hour course if:
You are 18, 19, or 20.
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 and applies to eligible applicants living in Carbondale.
The course must be completed through a provider certified by the Illinois Secretary of State.
Who Does Not Need the Course?
You generally do not need this specific six-hour course if:
You are under 18 and follow the separate teen licensing program.
You are age 21 or older and do not otherwise fall within the specific adult-course requirement.
You previously completed qualifying driver education and can provide acceptable proof.
You previously held a driver's license.
You are transferring a valid out-of-state license rather than applying as a first-time Illinois license applicant.
Illinois Online Adult Driver Education
The Adult Driver Education Course is at least six hours long.
The curriculum addresses:
Traffic laws
Signs and signals
Pavement markings
Impaired driving
Distracted driving
Cell phone and texting risks
Speed
Safety belts
Night driving
Right-of-way
Risk-taking and decision-making
The provider also administers a written final test.
Passing the provider test completes the education course. It does not replace the Illinois Secretary of State written or road examinations.
Course Includes and Does Not Include
Includes
Six-hour Adult Driver Education instruction
Online instruction through a certified provider
Traffic-law education
Traffic-safety information
Provider-administered final test
Certificate of Completion
Does Not Include
Behind-the-wheel lessons
Professional driving instruction
The Secretary of State written test
The Secretary of State road test
A driver's license
Illinois encourages adult applicants to obtain 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least 10 hours at night. This is recommended practice rather than part of the six-hour course.
Driving in Carbondale
Carbondale offers a more urban driving environment than smaller Jackson County communities.
New drivers may encounter:
More intersections
Heavier traffic
Pedestrians
Bicycles
University-related traffic
Parking activity
Bus and transit activity
Multi-lane roads
Turning traffic
Drivers entering and leaving commercial areas
The city also connects directly with rural roads and major state highways, so a student may need to transition quickly between urban and rural driving conditions.
Primary Local Driving Topic: City, University, and Regional Traffic
Carbondale's role as a regional center means traffic patterns can differ substantially from those in smaller Jackson County communities.
New drivers should pay particular attention to pedestrians, bicycles, turning vehicles, parked cars, intersections, and traffic entering or leaving major roads.
The safest approach is to scan well beyond the vehicle directly ahead and anticipate that pedestrians, cyclists, and turning vehicles may change the traffic picture quickly.
U.S. Route 51
U.S. Route 51 is an important north-south corridor serving Carbondale and the surrounding region.
Drivers using US 51 should expect more through traffic than on neighborhood streets. Lane selection, turning movements, merging, and awareness of traffic approaching from multiple directions are particularly important.
Illinois Route 13
Illinois Route 13 is a major east-west corridor connecting Carbondale with Murphysboro and other Southern Illinois communities.
The route also provides access toward Giant City Road and recreational destinations farther south.
Illinois Route 127
Illinois Route 127 provides an important north-south connection through Jackson County and connects Carbondale with Murphysboro and communities farther south.
Drivers transitioning between Route 127 and local city streets should watch carefully for lane changes and turning traffic.
Giant City Road and Recreational Traffic
Giant City Road provides access from the Carbondale area toward Giant City State Park.
Illinois DNR directs visitors from Route 13 toward Giant City Road and into the park. The park includes roads, campgrounds, recreational facilities, and other destinations that can generate seasonal traffic. (Illinois Department of Natural Resources)
Drivers traveling toward the park should be prepared for vehicles slowing to turn, unfamiliar drivers, recreational traffic, pedestrians near destinations, and changing road conditions.
Rural Roads Outside Carbondale
Carbondale is surrounded by rural Jackson County roads.
A new driver should practice both urban and rural driving because the transition can happen within a short trip.
Rural routes may have:
Less lighting
Narrower shoulders
Curves
Wildlife
Agricultural equipment
Fewer nearby services
Longer distances between intersections
Weather and Road Conditions
Jackson County maintains snow and ice operations on county highways. Murphysboro also designates specific streets as snow routes during winter weather. (Jackson County)
Carbondale drivers should reduce speed and increase following distance during heavy rain, snow, ice, or reduced visibility.
Never assume that a familiar route will have the same traction or visibility during severe weather.
Carbondale Driver Services Facility
Carbondale Driver Services2516 W. Murphysboro RoadCarbondale, IL 62901
The current Illinois Secretary of State facility listing identifies Carbondale as a Driver Services location. The Facility Finder lists first-time driver's license issuance, instruction permit services, vision screening, written testing, road testing, and other services. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Road tests are generally available until 60 minutes before closing, although timing can change. Road tests may also be postponed or canceled because of unsafe road, weather, or vehicle conditions. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Verify current facility information before traveling.
Take Adult Driver Education Online in Carbondale
Eligible first-time Illinois license applicants in Carbondale can complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education requirement online through a certified provider.
The online course can be completed without attending a physical classroom.
After passing the provider's final test, the student receives a Certificate of Completion. The student must then continue the licensing process at a Secretary of State Driver Services facility.
Carbondale Adult Driver Education FAQ
Do I need the course if I live in Carbondale?
If you are 18, 19, or 20, applying for your first Illinois driver's license, and have never completed qualifying driver education, you generally need the course.
Can I take the course online?
Yes. Eligible applicants can complete the course online through a certified provider.
How long is the course?
At least six hours.
Does the course include driving lessons?
No.
Is the provider final test the Secretary of State written test?
No. They are separate tests.
Where do I go after finishing the course?
You should bring your Certificate of Completion and required documents to a Secretary of State Driver Services facility.
Is there a Driver Services facility in Carbondale?
Yes. The current facility is at 2516 W. Murphysboro Road. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Does Carbondale offer the road test?
The current Facility Finder lists road-testing services at the Carbondale facility. (Illinois Secretary of State)
What should I expect when driving in Carbondale?
Expect more intersections, pedestrians, bicycles, university-related traffic, commercial traffic, and multilane roads than in many rural Jackson County communities.
Is Giant City Road important for local drivers?
Yes. It connects the Carbondale area with Giant City State Park and surrounding recreational areas. (Illinois Department of Natural Resources)
Do I need 50 hours of supervised practice?
Illinois encourages 50 hours, including at least 10 hours at night. This is not part of the six-hour adult course.
Can someone under 18 take this adult course?
No. Younger applicants follow the separate Illinois teen driver education program.
Do applicants 21 and older need this course?
Most applicants age 21 and older do not fall under this specific six-hour adult-course requirement.
Does completing the course guarantee a license?
No. You must still satisfy all applicable Secretary of State licensing requirements and pass the required examinations.
Start Your Carbondale Adult Driver Education Course Online
If you are an eligible first-time Illinois license applicant age 18, 19, or 20, complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education Course online through a certified provider.
After passing the course final test, download and print your Certificate of Completion and continue the Illinois licensing process at the Secretary of State.