Who Must Take Adult Driver Education?
You generally need 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.
Illinois requires the course to be completed through a Secretary of State-certified provider. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Who Does Not Need This Course?
The specific six-hour adult course generally does not apply if:
You are under 18 and follow Illinois' teen Graduated Driver Licensing process.
You are 21 or older.
You have already completed qualifying driver education.
You have previously been licensed, depending on your circumstances.
You are transferring a valid out-of-state driver's license to Illinois.
If your licensing history is unusual, verify your individual requirements with the Illinois Secretary of State before enrolling.
Illinois Online Adult Driver Education
The Adult Driver Education Course provides at least six hours of instruction. Online instruction is permitted when provided by a properly certified provider.
Course topics include:
Illinois traffic laws
Signs, signals, and pavement markings
Impaired driving
Distracted driving
Speed and following distance
Safety-belt use
Night driving
Right-of-way
Risk-taking and decision-making
Other crash-prevention topics
The online course also includes a provider-administered final test. Passing that test completes the course requirement, but it does not replace the Secretary of State's licensing examinations.
IllinoisAdultDriversEd.com is identified on the Secretary of State's Adult Driver Education provider listing as an online provider.
What the Course Includes and Does Not Include
The course includes
Six hours of Adult Driver Education instruction
Online classroom instruction
Illinois traffic-safety education
Traffic laws, signs, signals, and markings
Information about impaired and distracted driving
A provider-administered final test
A Certificate of Completion after successful completion
The course does not include
Behind-the-wheel lessons
An instructor riding with you
The Secretary of State road test
The Secretary of State written examination
Automatic issuance of a driver's license
Illinois encourages new drivers to obtain at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least 10 hours at night. That practice is separate from the six-hour Adult Driver Education Course.
Abingdon Licensing Process
An eligible Abingdon applicant can generally follow these steps:
Confirm that you meet the 18-to-20 Adult Driver Education eligibility requirements.
Select a Secretary of State-certified provider.
Complete the six-hour course online.
Pass the provider's final test.
Obtain and print your Certificate of Completion.
Gather the identification documents required for your Illinois license application.
Check the current Secretary of State facility information.
Visit an appropriate Driver Services facility.
Complete the applicable vision, written, and road examinations.
Complete the remaining licensing requirements and pay applicable fees.
The provider's final examination is separate from the Secretary of State's written examination.
Driving in Abingdon
Abingdon is an incorporated city in southwestern Knox County. The Illinois State Archives identifies Abingdon as a municipality classified as a city. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Driving around Abingdon provides a transition between local city streets and the rural roads surrounding the community. New drivers should be prepared for changing traffic conditions when leaving town and entering agricultural areas.
Rural driving requires additional attention to:
Farm equipment
Slow-moving vehicles
Limited nighttime lighting
Private farm entrances
Intersections with limited sight distance
Wildlife
Changing pavement conditions
Vehicles traveling at higher speeds on connecting highways
Drivers should slow down before curves and intersections rather than waiting until a hazard is directly in front of the vehicle.
Major Roads and Highways Near Abingdon
Abingdon is connected to the larger Knox County transportation network through nearby state and U.S. routes.
US 150 is an important regional route in the southern portion of Knox County and connects communities around the Galesburg and Knoxville areas.
Illinois Route 41 is an important north-south route in western Illinois and serves the broader Knox County region.
Other state and county roads connect Abingdon with surrounding rural communities. IDOT and Knox County transportation records identify an extensive network of state and county routes throughout the county. (Revize)
Primary Local Driving Topic: Rural Road Awareness
For a new Abingdon driver, rural-road awareness is one of the most useful local driving skills.
A road that appears empty can still contain a slow-moving tractor, farm truck, cyclist, wildlife, or vehicle entering from a private driveway.
New drivers should:
Reduce speed before blind curves.
Watch for farm equipment.
Avoid following slow-moving vehicles too closely.
Leave additional following distance.
Check carefully at rural intersections.
Use headlights when visibility is reduced.
Watch for animals after dark.
Avoid passing unless visibility and roadway conditions clearly permit it.
Additional Safety Topic: Night Driving
Rural areas around Abingdon can have substantially less artificial lighting than larger communities.
At night, use headlights appropriately and drive at a speed that allows enough time to recognize and respond to hazards. Be especially careful around intersections, curves, farm entrances, pedestrians, bicyclists, and animals.
Take the Course Online in Abingdon
Eligible Abingdon residents do not need to travel to a physical classroom to complete the classroom portion when they choose a certified online Adult Driver Education provider.
You can complete the six-hour course online, pass the provider's final test, and obtain your Certificate of Completion before proceeding with the in-person licensing process.
Online course completion does not eliminate the Secretary of State visit or applicable testing requirements.
Illinois Secretary of State Facility
The principal Driver Services facility for Knox County is:
Galesburg Driver Services1066 E. LoseyGalesburg, IL 61401
The current statewide Secretary of State facility directory lists the Galesburg location. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Because facility services and appointment requirements can change, verify the current service availability through the Secretary of State's DMV Facility Finder before traveling. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Adult Driver Education if I live in Abingdon?
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 need the six-hour course.
Can I take the course online in Abingdon?
Yes. Eligible applicants can take Adult Driver Education online through a provider certified to offer the online course.
How long is the course?
The Adult Driver Education Course provides at least six hours of instruction.
Does the course include driving lessons?
No. The course is classroom or online instruction and does not include behind-the-wheel training.
Is there a final test?
Yes. The provider administers a final written test that must be successfully completed.
Does the provider test replace the Secretary of State written test?
No. They are separate examinations.
What happens after I finish?
You receive access to your Certificate of Completion. Print it and bring it with your required documents to the Secretary of State.
Where will I complete my licensing process?
The Galesburg Driver Services facility at 1066 E. Losey is the principal Driver Services location in Knox County. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Should I practice driving before my licensing appointment?
Yes. Illinois encourages at least 50 hours of supervised practice, including 10 hours at night.
Does completing the online course give me a license?
No. You must still satisfy the Secretary of State's licensing requirements and applicable examinations.
Start Your Abingdon Adult Driver Education Course Online
If you are an eligible first-time Illinois license applicant ages 18 to 20, complete your required Adult Driver Education classroom instruction online through IllinoisAdultDriversEd.com.
Finish the six-hour course, pass the provider's final test, obtain your certificate, and prepare for your Illinois Secretary of State licensing visit.