When we walked to the Capitol Building that day in late April, it was a beautiful one – albeit a bit overcast at points. It was not yet too hot, and not too chilly any longer. But – regardless of the weather – great things were taking place just down the way, and Distress Bandanna was there to make sure of it.
We met Distress Bandanna’s John and Vivian Anderson – alongside their Teen Driver Safety Ambassadors Mason and Kaylynn Kooi – in the rotunda of the Capitol, amidst the seemingly infinite mass of politicians, aides, security, media figures, and guides.
All of the Distress Bandanna contingents were beaming and chatting as WMAY walked up to them, and they turned those smiles on us with brilliant enthusiasm.
It was a busy day – a busy part of the day too – and at only twenty past ten in the morning, the committee appraising the legislation to enshrine greater driver safety education for students had already adjourned – they had seen enough.
And why would the committees and representatives, the senators and politicians, why would they have needed any more time to deliberate? As Vivian Anderson explained to us, this incoming innovation is not rocket science – but it can save lives.
“The Distress Bandanna Senate Bill 2028 provides that the Secretary of State shall include in the Illinois Rules of the Road publication, information advising drivers on best practices related to stranded motorists.
This will ensure that Illinois Driver Education students will be educated on stranded motorists’ safety protocols to reduce injuries and fatalities. It will be a good reminder for anyone obtaining or renewing a driver’s license.
The bill has the support of the Illinois High School & College Driver Education Association. They are composed primarily of high school and college driver education teachers, instructors, coordinators, and safety enthusiasts. They have over 700 members and represent over 600 public high schools in Illinois.”
On that morning – one of many Senate committee hearings – WMAY went about the complex with Distress Bandanna, speaking with State Senator Laura Murphy, and we headed into Representative Ryan Spain’s office as well.
Everyone we met was thrilled that the bill was moving through the legislative process at the rate that it was, and Mason and Kaylynn remained the stars of the occasion all the while.
The House of Representatives had already passed the bill with ease at the end of April – not one individual voted against the bill – and with this morning completed, it appeared as though the State Senate would find little issue with the proposed innovation either.
Progress takes time, however. While we were kept in the loop of proceedings – one might say – the pace of legislative proceedings cannot always be accurately judged. But just weeks later, we received a text message of joy and sheer delight from Vivian.
May 16, 01:20 pm: Vivian Anderson: “They (the Illinois State Senate) just passed our Distress Bandanna Senate Bill 2028!
Representative Katie Stuart addressed [everyone] and recognized Distress Bandanna as going to so many high schools to speak to the students about stranded motorists’ safety protocols.
She actually said ‘Distress Bandanna,’ and we were finally recognized! I am so happy – this will save a lot of lives….”
As it turned out, after the months-long process finally concluded on the legislative side, no one found even a single issue with the proposition at literally any point of its journey from a proposed bill to a law that will help keep the community and those within it safer and more prepared for driving-related conundrums.
May 16, 03:59 pm: Vivian Anderson: “It was unanimous; 115 Yes votes. No one voted against it in the Senate or the House and in any committee….”
And as the document now sits, waiting for Governor JB Pritzker to sign it – thereby agreeing with each representative and senator of the state of Illinois – all of Distress Bandanna has found itself invigorated and energized by the victory.
When WMAY had the opportunity to catch up with Vivian Anderson of Distress Bandanna just the other day to discuss the legislative victory that the organization has created and championed from start to success, as well as the journey that brought them to this point, we could hear their absolute happiness.
Yet as the famous football coach Vince Lombardi once declared, “The only reward for hard work is more hard work.”
Vivian was anxious to give credit to those who fought so hard for Distress Bandanna’s bill, and noted that she could go on about everyone involved if only there were more time in the day.
We also got into what lies ahead for Distress Bandanna, and what the next objective is in making society a safer, better-prepared place for everyone – no matter their age or income; enjoy!
WMAY: Who championed the bill at each level of the General Assembly?
Vivian Anderson of Distress Bandanna: Senator Laura Murphy and Senator Steve McClure championed the bill in the Senate. Representative Katie Stuart championed the bill in the House of Representatives, and Representative Ryan Spain also deserves credit and appreciation in that part of the General Assembly.
WMAY: What is next for Distress Bandanna as it concerns driver and safety activism? Can we get a campaign on the virtues and practical necessity of signaling next? Or perhaps the dangers of running red lights?
VA of DB: If our nonprofit receives funding, I want to launch a regional awareness campaign about Driver Education Deserts that disproportionately impact health equity outcomes related to young driver safety. We believe that teen driver safety is a priority because a safe community is the foundation of a thriving community.
Youth experiencing low economic mobility and access to supporting resources require travel to another town or urban centers for driver education at driver training schools. The ever-growing cost of learning how to drive especially impacts students experiencing poverty.
Low-income families cannot afford the high cost of driver education. Economic mobility, accessibility, and affordability create striking economic barriers between those who can and cannot afford to drive. We are fortunate that in Illinois, public high schools offer driver education; however, it still affects students and families if young drivers drop out of school.
You can see the bill that Governor JB Pritzker will soon be signing into law below!
AN ACT concerning transportation.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Section 2-112 as follows:
1625 ILCS 5/2-112) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 2-112)
Sec. 2-112. Distribution of synopsis laws.
- The Secretary of State may publish a synopsis or summary of the laws of this State regulating the operation of vehicles and may deliver a copy thereof without charge with each original vehicle registration and with each original driver’s license.
- The Secretary of State shall make any necessary revisions in its publications including, but not limited to, the Illinois Rules of the Road, to accurately conform its publications to the provisions of the Pedestrians with Disabilities Safety Act.
- The Secretary of State shall include, in the Illinois Rules of the Road publication, information advising drivers to use the Dutch Reach method when opening a vehicle door after parallel parking on a street (checking the rear-view mirror, checking the side-view mirror, then opening the door with the right hand, thereby reducing the risk of injuring a bicyclist or opening the door in the path a vehicle approaching from behind).
(d) The Secretary of State shall include, in the Illinois Rules of the Road publication, information advising drivers to use the zipper merge method when merging into a reduced number of lanes (drivers in merging lanes are expected to use both lanes to advance to the lane reduction point and merge at that location, alternating turns).
(e) The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Illinois State Police, shall include in the Illinois Rules of the Road publication a description of law enforcement procedures during traffic stops and the actions that a motorist should take during a traffic stop, including appropriate interactions with law enforcement officers.
(£) The Secretary of State shall include, in the Illinois Rules of Road publication, information advising drivers on best practices related to stranded motorists. This may include, but is not limited to, how to safely pull the vehicle out of traffic, activating hazard lights, when to remain in a vehicle, how to safely exit a stranded vehicle, where to find a safe place outside the stranded vehicle, and emergency numbers to call for assistance.
(Source: P.A. 101-174, eff. 1-1-20; 102-455, eff. 1-1-22.)
Our thanks to John and Vivian Anderson, their fantastic teen driver safety ambassadors, all of the cooperating state senators and representatives, and everyone else for their time and diligent work!
