Prior to January 1, 1997, 16 year-olds could qualify for a Connecticut driver's licence shortly after their 16th birthday. Beginning January 1, 16 and 17 year-olds were required to obtain a learner's permit and hold it for 6 months (4 months with driver education). Other prelicensing requirements were largely unmodified. For 1997, the first full year under the new requirements, fatal/injury crash involvements of 16-year-old drivers declined by 22 percent in Connecticut. The fatal/injury crash involvements of 17 and 18 year-olds in Connecticut, and 16-, 17-, and 18-year-old drivers in nearby New York counties did not change significantly from 1996 and 1997. There was no difference in the crash reduction of 16 year-olds in Connecticut as a function of city/town size, income level, or availability of driver education in the school system. (A)
Abstract