Secretary of State George H. Ryan announces his "Safe Driver Renewal" program at the recent Chicago Auto Show. With legislative approval, motorists with clean driving records could simply obtain asticker for the back of their licenses at renewal time instead of visiting a driver facility.

The number of visits that safe motorists must make to a Driver Services facility to renew their licenses would be cut under a new "Safe Driver Renewal" proposal, announced at the Chicago Auto Show in February. Under this initiative, each year about 1.1 million motorists with clean driving records could renew their licenses over the telephone or through the mail. Currently, safe drivers are required to take only a vision test when they visit a facility to renew their licenses.

I believe this "Safe Driver Renewal" program is a way to reward safe drivers and a way to use taxpayer dollars more efficiently. It is estimated that waiting lines at driver facilities could be reduced by as much as 50 percent, and the state could save up to $400, 000 annually by reducing the cost of producing licenses.

Legislation seeking the necessary changes in Illinois' driver's license system to implement "Safe Driver Renewal" was introduced recently in the General Assembly. The legislation would extend from four years to eight years the time between visits to a driver facility for safe drivers.

There are more than 6.5 million licensed drivers in Illinois. However, "Safe Driver Renewal" is available only to motorists between the ages of 21 and 75. State law requires more frequent renewals for drivers age 75 and older.

Participating drivers would need to have clean records — no moving violations and no traffic crashes that resulted in injuries or death. No motorist with a drunk driving arrest would be eligible for the program. Also excluded would be school bus drivers, truck drivers and others who hold commercial drivers licenses.

Drivers who qualify would receive a notice in the mail along with instructions on how to complete the renewal process over the telephone or via mail. Eventually, I hope to offer "Safe Driver Renewal" via fax machine and over the Internet.

I am proposing that motorists use the existing "Touch-Tone" renewal technology that is in place for the telephone renewal of license plate stickers.

Using "Touch-Tone," motorists would dial a number, pay the standard $10 renewal fee with a credit card, answer a few required questions and enter a renewal code number.

In about a week, motorists would receive a sticker in the mail from my Driver Services Department marked with the driver's name, address, license number and new expiration date. The sticker would be placed on the back of the license.

Eligible motorists would still have the option of renewing their licenses in person when the license expires, or if they change their residence or other vital information.

Currently, 11 states, including California, Michigan and Arizona, offer qualified motorists some process of license renewal that does not require a visit to a Driver Services facility.

I am confident that the General Assembly will pass the legislation allowing "Safe Driver Renewal" to be implemented. It is a program that Illinois taxpayers and motorists will applaud for its many benefits: government will be more efficient, waiting lines will be reduced, and modern technology will be put to use. •