Overview
Grafton is a distinctive place to learn about safe driving because the city sits along the Mississippi River near the confluence with the Illinois River. Illinois Route 100 and the Great River Road serve the area, while nearby Pere Marquette State Park attracts recreational and tourist traffic. (Illinois Department of Natural Resources)
After successfully completing the course and the provider's final test, you receive a Certificate of Completion. You must still visit an Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services facility and complete the applicable licensing requirements, including vision, written, and road testing. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Who Must Take Adult Driver Education?
You generally must complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education Course if all three 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 Illinois Secretary of State specifically states that these applicants must successfully complete the six-hour course before obtaining an Illinois driver's license. (Illinois Secretary of State)
The course must come from a provider certified by the Secretary of State. Completion from an uncertified provider will not satisfy the requirement.
Who Does Not Need This Course?
You generally do not need this particular six-hour course if:
You are under 18 and are following Illinois' teen Graduated Driver Licensing process.
You are 21 or older and are not otherwise subject to this specific requirement.
You have previously been licensed.
You completed an approved driver education course through a high school or commercial driving school.
You can provide acceptable proof of qualifying driver education completed elsewhere.
The Secretary of State also states that an applicant who completed an approved driver education course in another state may provide acceptable proof, such as a certified high school transcript. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Can You Take Adult Driver Education Online in Grafton?
Yes. Illinois allows eligible applicants to take either a classroom or online Adult Driver Education course when the selected provider is certified for that format. (Illinois Secretary of State)
The online course contains at least six hours of instructional material. Illinois' online certification requirements specify a minimum of 360 minutes of instruction. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Topics include:
Illinois traffic laws
Highway signs and signals
Pavement markings
Risk management
Poor decision-making
Impaired driving
Distracted driving
Cell phone and text-message risks
Speed
Safety belt use
Night driving
Right-of-way
The provider also administers a final written test. This is a course-completion test and is separate from the written test administered by the Secretary of State.
What the Grafton Online Course Includes
Includes
At least six hours of Adult Driver Education instruction
Online instruction through a certified provider
Illinois traffic-safety education
Traffic laws and roadway rules
Signs, signals, and pavement markings
Risk and decision-making instruction
Impaired and distracted driving information
A provider-administered final test
A Certificate of Completion after successful completion
Does Not Include
Behind-the-wheel instruction
Instructor-led driving lessons
The Secretary of State written examination
The Secretary of State road examination
Automatic issuance of a driver's license
Permission to drive independently
Illinois specifically states that the six-hour course consists of classroom or online instruction and does not include behind-the-wheel training. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Illinois encourages applicants to obtain at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least 10 hours at night, before obtaining a license. This is recommended practice and is separate from the six-hour course. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Grafton Illinois Licensing Process
For an eligible first-time applicant in Grafton, the general process is:
Confirm that you meet the 18-to-20 Adult Driver Education eligibility requirements.
Select a provider certified by the Illinois Secretary of State.
Complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education course online.
Pass the provider's final written test.
Receive your Certificate of Completion.
Download and print the certificate.
Prepare the identification documents required for first-time Illinois licensing.
Visit an Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services facility.
Complete the applicable vision, written, and road examinations.
Complete the remaining licensing requirements and pay applicable fees.
The course itself does not issue a driver's license.
Driving in Grafton
Grafton presents a different driving environment from the inland agricultural portions of Jersey County.
The city is located along the Mississippi River near the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Illinois Route 100 serves the community and connects the area with Pere Marquette State Park and the broader Great River Road corridor. (Illinois Department of Natural Resources)
Grafton's location also means drivers may encounter:
Tourist traffic
Recreational vehicles
Pedestrians
Bicyclists
Vehicles unfamiliar with local roads
Traffic slowing near attractions
Vehicles turning toward riverfront businesses
Changing conditions near the river
The official City of Grafton describes the community as a river town whose economy has become strongly connected to tourism and recreation. (City of Grafton)
Major Road: Illinois Route 100
Illinois Route 100 is the most important state highway for drivers in Grafton.
The route follows the Mississippi River corridor and forms part of the Great River Road. It also provides access to Pere Marquette State Park and the Brussels Ferry.
IDOT identifies the Brussels Ferry as being approximately one mile west of Grafton. The ferry crosses the Illinois River and connects Illinois Route 100 with Calhoun County. (IDOT)
Drivers should be prepared for changing traffic patterns around:
Riverfront areas
Tourist attractions
State park access
Ferry traffic
Pedestrian activity
Recreational vehicles
Curves and changing roadway conditions
Primary Local Driving Topic: River Flooding and Changing Road Conditions
Flooding is one of the most important local safety considerations for Grafton drivers.
The city sits directly along the Mississippi River, and its history has been strongly affected by flooding. The City of Grafton notes that floods have repeatedly affected the community, including the major 1993 flood. (City of Grafton)
For a new driver, the important lesson is that familiar roads can become unsafe or unavailable during major flooding.
When flooding or severe storms affect the area:
Check road and weather conditions before leaving.
Never drive around a barricade.
Do not enter water covering an unfamiliar roadway.
Do not assume shallow-looking water is safe.
Watch for debris and damaged pavement.
Allow additional time for detours.
Follow official closure and emergency instructions.
Illinois DNR also notes that natural events can result in closed roads and other facilities around the nearby Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area. (Illinois Department of Natural Resources)
Additional Safety Topic: Tourist and Recreational Traffic
Grafton's location on the Great River Road makes it a destination for visitors.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources identifies the Great River Road through Grafton and describes the area as a scenic route with access to recreation, river activities, and Pere Marquette State Park. (Illinois Department of Natural Resources)
New drivers should expect visitors who may:
Slow down suddenly
Stop to look for attractions
Turn unexpectedly
Change lanes after missing a destination
Search for parking
Travel at unfamiliar speeds
Leave additional following distance and avoid assuming the vehicle ahead knows the road.
Bicycles and Pedestrians in Grafton
The river corridor also attracts cyclists and pedestrians.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources identifies the Vadalabene Bike Trail as a 14.5-mile route connecting Alton and Grafton, with much of the route following the Great River Road. (Illinois Department of Natural Resources)
Drivers should:
Watch carefully for cyclists near the roadway.
Give cyclists appropriate space.
Check for pedestrians near businesses and attractions.
Slow down in areas with heavy foot traffic.
Look carefully before turning across bicycle or pedestrian paths.
Take the Course Online in Grafton
Eligible first-time Illinois license applicants who live in Grafton can complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education course online through a provider certified by the Illinois Secretary of State.
The online format means the instructional portion can be completed without traveling to a classroom.
After completion, you must continue the licensing process in person at a Driver Services facility.
Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services Facility
Jerseyville Driver Services Facility
710 County RoadJerseyville, IL 62052
Jerseyville is the Secretary of State Driver Services facility serving Jersey County. The current Facility Finder lists first-time driver's license issuance, instruction permits, vision screening, written testing, and non-CDL road testing among its services. (Illinois Secretary of State)
The Facility Finder currently lists regular weekday hours and states that road tests are generally available until 60 minutes before closing, although timing can change because of customer volume. Road tests may also be postponed or canceled because of unsafe road, weather, or vehicle conditions. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Before traveling, confirm current hours and services through the official Secretary of State Facility Finder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Adult Driver Education if I live in Grafton?
If you are 18, 19, or 20, are applying for your first Illinois driver's license, and have never completed an approved driver education course, you generally must complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education course. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Can I take Adult Driver Education online in Grafton?
Yes. Eligible applicants may take an online course from a provider certified by the Illinois Secretary of State for online Adult Driver Education. (Illinois Secretary of State)
How long is the course?
The course is at least six hours long. Illinois online certification rules require at least 360 minutes of instruction. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Does the course include driving lessons?
No. The six-hour course does not include or require behind-the-wheel training. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Is the provider final test the Illinois written test?
No. The provider final test confirms successful completion of the Adult Driver Education course. The Secretary of State separately administers the applicable written examination.
How much driving practice should I get?
Illinois encourages at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least 10 hours at night. (Illinois Secretary of State)
What happens after I finish the online course?
You receive a Certificate of Completion and then continue the Illinois licensing process at a Driver Services facility.
Where is the nearest Driver Services facility?
The Jerseyville Driver Services facility is located at 710 County Road in Jerseyville. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Can I take my road test in Jerseyville?
The current Facility Finder lists road testing among the services offered at Jerseyville. Road-test availability can change because of weather, road, vehicle, or customer-volume conditions. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Does Grafton have special driving conditions?
Yes. Grafton's riverfront location, Great River Road traffic, recreational activity, pedestrians, cyclists, and potential flooding create conditions that new drivers should be prepared for.
Why should I be careful around Illinois Route 100?
Route 100 is a major corridor through Grafton and provides access to the Great River Road, Pere Marquette State Park, and the Brussels Ferry. Traffic can include both local drivers and visitors.
Should I practice driving in Grafton before taking my road test?
Practicing in Grafton and surrounding Jersey County can help you become comfortable with local streets, state highways, intersections, rural roads, pedestrians, and changing traffic conditions.
Start Your Grafton 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 requirement online through a certified provider.
Complete the course, pass the provider final test, obtain your Certificate of Completion, and then continue your Illinois licensing process at a Secretary of State Driver Services facility.
Start your six-hour online Adult Driver Education course today.