Study Finds 18 Million Americans Would Fail Driving Test
GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test, a study of American drivers from GMA Insurance, has found that one in every American drivers would fail a state drivers test. That comes to 18 million Americans. The worst drivers were in the Northeast according to the study.
The startling results come one year after GMAC Insurance first set out to gauge the knowledge of the American driving public, when licensed drivers were administered 20 questions found on a typical DMV written drivers test. The 2006 findings indicate drivers still do not have adequate knowledge of basic rules of the road, and they exhibit bad habits behind the wheel. For the second year in a row, Oregon drivers ranked highest on the test, with an average score of 91 percent (70 percent or higher is required to pass a standard drivers test), and Rhode Island ranked lowest, with an average score of 75 percent.
"The rules of the road should not be something you learn once when you are 16 years old," said Gary Kusumi, CEO and president, GMAC Insurance - Personal Lines. "We want to remind everyone that they need to work on their driving skills every day. If we're all diligent, we can avoid many accidents and stay safe."
Here are some interesting findings from the study:
Overall, drivers in the Northeast region are most apt to fail the test, with state failure rates of 16% or more.
Drivers in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest regions are the most knowledgeable, with state failure rates ranging from 1% to 7%.
Drivers under 35 years old are most likely to fail a written driving test (18-24 year olds have the lowest average test scores); experienced drivers ages 35-60+, are most likely to pass a written driving test.
Roughly 1 in 3 drivers don't usually stop for pedestrians - even if they're in a crosswalk or at a yellow light.
Eating and talking on a cell phone are by far the most common activities (42% eat and 40% chat on cell phones).
Nearly one-quarter of Americans believe there are circumstances in which it's acceptable to not wear a seatbelt.
1 in 7 Americans have packed their car so tightly that their vision was obstructed.
At least 1 in 5 drivers do not know that highways are the most slippery just when it starts to rain after a dry spell. In fact, this is the question most often answered incorrectly for the second year in a row. Fortunately, 97% of those tested know what to do when they hydroplane.
