By Greg Halbleib

SPRINGFIELD – Self-driving cars may be on the horizon, but the head of the state transportation department says there’s plenty to look at before giving them the green light.

Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn said safety must be assured before pulling drivers from behind the wheel.

“We’re working with auto manufacturers, companies like Uber and others and our academic institutions to really think through what does this look like, how does it work, how do we make sure that it’s safe,” Blankenhorn told WJBC’s Marc Strauss.

Blankenhorn says a separate lane for self-driving vehicles is not a good idea because the cars should be able to drive with other traffic to be allowed on the roads.

The secretary also said a proposal from State Sen. James Oberweis to increase the speed limit on rural interstates to 75 miles per hour needs considerable study. Blankenhorn said the primary concern is the differences in speed among vehicles.

“If people go the same speed on a highway, it’s much safer than people going 15 or 10 miles per hour slower than someone else,” Blankenhorn said. “(Oberweis’) concern, not to speak for him, is that people are driving 75 and there are people driving 65, and that makes the dangerous situation.”

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].