Teenagers will have to drive twice ...

Teenagers will have to drive twice as many hours to acquire their licenses if legislators agree to a compromise that would hold fast 16 as the minimum driving age.

The bill would double the amount of on-the-road experience indigenceed from 25 to 50 hours, including a recently made known requirement of 10 night hours. Teenagers also would ne their parents to sign along for learner permits, and then again for their licenses.

The House approved the measure last month and the Senate is awaited to send it to the governor's office before the legislative session cessations Gov. Rod Blagojevich hasn't reviewed the bill, on the other hand he has supported behind-the-wheel safety laws in the past.

Metro-east legislators appear more receptive to this idea than they were to an upstate colleague's earlier proposal to change the legal driving age to 18 They argued that most numerous southern Illinois residents don't have