Greenwood Highlights New Law Affecting Dealership Test Driver Safety

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – State Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, is highlighting a new law scheduled to take effect Jan. 1 that will require auto dealers to remove stickers and other visual obstructions from a windshield before a driver leaves the lot and takes a test drive.

“It is reckless and a safety hazard when vehicles are driven on public roadways with the driver’s vision obstructed,” Greenwood said. “Tragically, these window obstructions have caused accidents in the past and taken life.”

The new law was created through the Greenwood-supported House Bill 733, which came in response to a 2016 accident in Hoffman Estates that claimed the life of an individual whose vehicle was hit by a test driven car. Under House Bill 733, dealerships will now be prohibited from allowing test drives with new or used vehicles that feature for sale or lease signs, decals, paperwork or other material that would obstruct the driver’s view. The law applies to both the windshield and windows adjacent to the driver.

“When someone is testing a vehicle, they are already trying to adjust to a new environment and the way the car handles,” Greenwood said. “This new law is a simple way to reduce the risk of an accident and ensure we are not putting lives unnecessarily at risk.”