Is Illinois’ mandatory road test for seniors fair? The 49 other state…

John Billis hasn’t gotten a parking citation, let alone a traffic ticket, in about 50 years, he says.

So why, Billis wonders, must he take a driving test to renew his license upon turning 79?

“It’s discriminatory,” the 75-year-old said. “It’s totally wrong.”

Illinois is the only state in the U.S. with a mandatory road test for seniors.

The law requires drivers aged 79 and 80 to take a road exam if their four-year license renewal is up. For drivers aged 81 to 86, it’s every two years, and for those 87 and older, it’s yearly.

But according to a recent study, “statistics show that our senior drivers are among the safest drivers in the state,” Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said.

Billis, a Vietnam War veteran from Prairie View, said it would be different if he had gotten a ticket.

With a clean record, however, “I shouldn’t have to take a test because of my age. I’m not worried about taking a test. I…