Abstract
In 1976, Connecticut eliminated state funding for high school driver education and nine school systems dropped the courses from their high school curricula. This research examines the effect of this action on overall licensure of 16-17 year old drivers. As a result, the number of crashes involving 16-17 years old resident are reduced. High school driver education is a major contributor to earlier licensure and accompanying crash involvement of the 16-17 year old population.