41 Million Licensed Americans May be Unfit for Roads

[rh71]

http://www.gmacinsurance.com/S...iving/PressRelease.asp

highlights:

Idaho and Wisconsin drivers tied for first in the nation, with an average test score of 80.6 percent; New York drivers ranked last, with an average score of 70.5 percent. This is the second time Idaho ranked first and the second time New York has ranked last in the survey?s five-year history.

In general, geographical regions ranked similarly to previous years, with the lowest average test scores in the Northeast, while the states in the Midwest held the highest averages. When comparing genders, men are still more likely to pass the test than women, but the gap is considerably smaller in 2009 (81 percent of males versus 79 percent of females) than in 2008 (87 percent of males versus 80 percent of females).

Respondents continued to have difficulty on questions about yellow lights and safe following distances, while almost all drivers answered correctly what a solid line meant.

Additional key findings from the 2009 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test include:
With Age Comes Wisdom: The older the driver, the higher the test score. Drivers 35+ years old were most likely to pass. The age group with the highest failure rates was young adults (18 to 24 years old). White males older than 45 received the highest average score.
The Northeast had the lowest average test scores (74.5 percent), the South had the highest failure rate (41 percent). The Midwest had the highest average test scores (79 percent) and the lowest failure rates (15 percent).
Idaho and Wisconsin replaced Kansas?s 2008 ranking as most knowledgeable; New York replaced New Jersey?s 2008 ranking as least knowledgeable.

Yellow lights mean speed up right? Small town boy in Idaho ain't got sh!t to do so he ain't gonna run it. AIN'T! Let's see Idaho boy drive in NYC with his handbook rules. LOL @ safe following distances. Impractical.

 

[Vette73]

Take the test here!!!


The GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test
Your Score: 95% Challenge a friend

Please review your answers below. Incorrect answers are highlighted in red.

 

[LTC8K6]

How you do on a driving test is probably not much of an indication of how you actually drive, though.

 

[oddyager]

Originally posted by: rh71
http://www.gmacinsurance.com/S...iving/PressRelease.asp

highlights:

Idaho and Wisconsin drivers tied for first in the nation, with an average test score of 80.6 percent; New York drivers ranked last, with an average score of 70.5 percent. This is the second time Idaho ranked first and the second time New York has ranked last in the survey?s five-year history.

In general, geographical regions ranked similarly to previous years, with the lowest average test scores in the Northeast, while the states in the Midwest held the highest averages. When comparing genders, men are still more likely to pass the test than women, but the gap is considerably smaller in 2009 (81 percent of males versus 79 percent of females) than in 2008 (87 percent of males versus 80 percent of females).

Respondents continued to have difficulty on questions about yellow lights and safe following distances, while almost all drivers answered correctly what a solid line meant.

Additional key findings from the 2009 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test include:
With Age Comes Wisdom: The older the driver, the higher the test score. Drivers 35+ years old were most likely to pass. The age group with the highest failure rates was young adults (18 to 24 years old). White males older than 45 received the highest average score.
The Northeast had the lowest average test scores (74.5 percent), the South had the highest failure rate (41 percent). The Midwest had the highest average test scores (79 percent) and the lowest failure rates (15 percent).
Idaho and Wisconsin replaced Kansas?s 2008 ranking as most knowledgeable; New York replaced New Jersey?s 2008 ranking as least knowledgeable.

Yellow lights mean speed up right? Small town boy in Idaho ain't got sh!t to do so he ain't gonna run it. AIN'T! Let's see Idaho boy drive in NYC with his handbook rules.

I shake my head when people who are almost a half a block away rev it up to beat that red light only to get themselves snapped by the traffic camera. Or they slam their brakes because they couldn't make it in time.

 

[mugs]

I'm embarrassed by my state, but this does explain all of the assholes who pass me when I pull over for emergency vehicles. :roll:

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Take the test here!!!


The GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test
Your Score: 95% Challenge a friend

Please review your answers below. Incorrect answers are highlighted in red.

I got a 90%.

14. When you are merging onto the freeway, you should be driving:
A. At or near the same speed as the traffic on the freeway
B. 5 to 10 miles per hour slower than the traffic on the freeway
C. The posted speed limit for traffic on the freeway

I thought myself out of the right answer on this one. I initially had the correct answer (A), but then I realized that if I drove "at or near" the speed of the traffic on the freeway I'd most likely be speeding as no one does the speed limit on the freeways around here. I suppose I started thinking about the question outside the "test world" where everyone should be following the rules.

18. When you approach a traffic signal displaying a steady yellow light, you must:
A. Go through the intersection before it turns red
B. Stop if it is safe to do so
C. Be prepared to stop
D. Slow down and proceed with caution

This one I honestly didn't know/remember. I don't believe I've ever seen a steady yellow light.

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

The GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test
Your Score: 95%

Same here.

 

[rh71]

I failed my written test the 1st time... took it 15 minutes later, still without cracking the book, and passed. It depends on how obscure your questions are. I had a question about backing out of a hidden driveway and 3 of the 4 answers sounded very correct. I mean, wtf... do you have to find this stuff in the manual to get 100%?

 

[IceBergSLiM]

there is only one rule driving in NYC - Don't hit other cars.

 

[shocksyde]

Got this one wrong:

18. When you approach a traffic signal displaying a steady yellow light, you must:

A. Go through the intersection before it turns red
B. Stop if it is safe to do so
C. Be prepared to stop
D. Slow down and proceed with caution

I feel like C should be correct as well.

 

[nanobreath]

Yeah...100% But as mentioned, just because you know all the rules doesn't mean you always follow them. They shoulda given me the test, poor Louisiana could have used the boost!

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: TheVrolok
This one I honestly didn't know/remember. I don't believe I've ever seen a steady yellow light.

Steady as in non-blinking. They're referring to the yellow light that comes before a red light.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I know what the REAL answers are, and the real world answers...and they tend to vary state to state.

 

[Tobolo]

The GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test

Your Score: 100% Challenge a friend

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: TheVrolok
This one I honestly didn't know/remember. I don't believe I've ever seen a steady yellow light.

Steady as in non-blinking. They're referring to the yellow light that comes before a red light.

Damnit, really? I didn't take it that way at all. A yellow light that is going to become red is in a transition from on to off in a matter of seconds. Damnit, that's not steady. Lame.

 

[Zenmervolt]

100% Anyone who gets less than 90% should not be allowed on the road.

ZV

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: rh71
Yellow lights mean speed up right? Small town boy in Idaho ain't got sh!t to do so he ain't gonna run it. AIN'T! Let's see Idaho boy drive in NYC with his handbook rules. LOL @ safe following distances. Impractical.

:disgust: This is exactly why you shouldn't be allowed to drive.

 

[KnickNut3]

How you drive is a much bigger factor as to whether you're "unfit." I have no idea what safe following distances are numerically, but common sense usually sees me through. I'm sure there are people who know the exact number but drive unsafely.

The bigger issue, and what I thought this would be about when you mentioned "unfit," is older drivers who have vision problems, reaction time problems, or just plain don't know what they're doing anymore out on the roads. Requiring driving tests or suspending licenses for people over 65, however, would cause public outrage.

 

[Mardeth]

Your Score: 60%

 

[hiromizu]

20% and I just got a 280hp car and drive in the city :\ I got ill driving skills though I don't hit no one.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Originally posted by: shocksyde
Got this one wrong:

18. When you approach a traffic signal displaying a steady yellow light, you must:

A. Go through the intersection before it turns red
B. Stop if it is safe to do so
C. Be prepared to stop
D. Slow down and proceed with caution

I feel like C should be correct as well.

I thought so too.

 

[RapidSnail]

90%

16 and 18

 

[isekii]

The GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test

Your Score: 200% Challenge a friend

 

[dud]

My 21 year old son is one of these perople.

Three (3) accidents in nine (9) months is too many.

 

[slackwarelinux]

10%