U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for February 17

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Feb 17, 2011, 12:01 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17: HIGH SCHOOL DRIVING COURSE

Profile America -- Thursday, February 17th. Millions of American drivers got their first experience behind the wheel of a car through a drivers ed course in high school, approved by the State Department of Motor Vehicles. In some states, such courses are required before a young person can obtain a learner's permit. Some insurance companies give a premium discount to drivers who have graduated from such a course. The first drivers ed classes were held in the spring of 1934 at State College High School in State College, Pennsylvania, taught by Amos Earl Neyhart -- long before there were automatic transmissions. Those who completed the course received their drivers' licenses. In the U.S. today, there are nearly 209 million licensed drivers. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources: Kane's Famous First Facts, 3090

440 International Calendar of Events, Those Were the Days

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2011, t. 1097

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau