1 in 6 Would Flunk

[smockers83]

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- About one in six U.S. drivers wouldn't be able to pass a written driving test if they took it today, according to a new study.

The 2008 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test found that 16.4%, of drivers, or 33 million, don't know the rules of the road.

The survey presented 5,524 drivers from all 50 states with 20 questions derived from official Department of Motor Vehicle tests. Among the main sticking points were what to do when approaching a yellow light, and the safe distance to maintain behind another car.

Overall, the national average score grew slightly to 78.1% from 77.1% in 2007, but scores varied based on driver demographic and geography.

The study found that drivers over the age of 35 were more likely to pass, and women were more likely to fail than men.

Drivers in the Northeast continued to have the lowest scores and the highest failure rates, with New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia maintaining their three-year streak in the bottom five rankings. Drivers from the Midwest had the highest scores and the lowest failure rate, with Kansas taking the top spot this year from Idaho.

"It's encouraging to see that scores are beginning to get better, but there is still a lot of room for improvement," Wade Bontrager, GMAC Insurance's vice president of marketing said in a statement.

Some of the bright spots showed that nearly all of the test-takers knew how to respond to an emergency vehicle with flashing lights, what to do when hydroplaning, and how to interpret a solid yellow line.

[smockers83]

I can definitely attest to the Nor'easters being very bad drivers. Almost every one that I've met. One of them would ask why I did or didn't do something if she rode with me and it blows my mind that she drives around NYC. Also, when school is in session, the amount of bad drivers increases a lot, mainly from the NE. I also have to say the same thing of Californians, although not as bad as those from the NE. The thing about CA is that you guys know how to get around on freeways well, for the most part, but once some of you get into a downtown area with no traffic lights... But I like driving in SoCal...everyone drives fast.

The thing that really surprises me is that knowing the rules of a 4-way stop aren't among the top things not known very well. That's the biggest problem around here IMO along with using the left lane and not passing or even going the speed limit and not moving over for me when I get on your bootaytay.

[audtatious]

lolz....

I just took a TN online exam and missed 9 of 15. I missed questions like:

"when parallel parking how far should you be from the curb?" in which I said less than 12" but the answer was less than 18" (car is too far out in the street, IMO at 18").

Children in child seats (I said <3yo and the answer was <4yo.....My kids have not been that young in 19 years!!!!)

For slow traffic, at which point should you pull over to allow others to pass. I said '5 or more' and the answer was '8 or more'. The people who write the tests obviously don't drive for a living and get stuck behind slow people.

Which vehicle does not have to stop at railroad crossings: school busses, church vans or busses, taxi's. I selected taxi cuz they never stop at RR crossings (and I never drove a taxi). Answer was church vans/busses.

The others were pretty similar BS questions and answers. Guess I should stop driving.

[rn79870]

A lot of those questions are perfect world questions. Who can leave a space for every 10nph on a CA freeway. Questions like how close to park to a curb have nothing to do with being a good driver when the closer you park the better. Real world questions might be better.

[mtcookson]

with Kansas taking the top spot

They must have not had any people from Wichita take the test...

[AZhitman]

Written driving tests are like trying out for the NFL on a PlayStation.

Stupid.

[mtcookson]

What's really bad... is when the tests themselves are wrong. I took the ABATE of Indiana course for motorcycles and scored at the top of the group at age 16... it was a class of people from ages 15 to over 50, many of whom had been riding for many years. I out scored all of them.

I took the written test at the DMV to get my license... and failed. Why? Their test was actually incorrect. It was multiple choice and some of the questions did not have a correct answer listed, the answers were even different than what the state's own motorcycle book said was correct, which they give to study for the test and did contain the proper way to do things. I pointed out the errors and they basically told me there was nothing they could do about it so I just came back again later to take the worthless test again, answering questions incorrectly so I could pass and get my license. Worthless.

[BigMACKenzie]

Written driving tests are like trying out for the NFL on a PlayStation

I live in and work near Washington DC and they were right, we have some of the worst drivers in the country easy. I saw someone in a hatchback make a illegal left turn from the RIGHT LANE cutting across a SUV (don't remember what, just that it would have eaten the little 3 door alive and spit out the hubcaps). But I have to say the most maniacal driving i have ever seen was on the freeways of LA. WTF? you ppl are crazy, how fast you go has everything to do with what lane you are in, not how many exits you have left to get off/ how fast can i weave my car in and out of the slow lanes lol. Mtcookson, I took and failed the written drivers test for cars in MD and failed three times before i passed and passed the in car on the first try. I had already been driving for three years at that point.

[audtatious]

There are too many safety nets for the darwin elitists

[rn79870]

The illegals here in CA have no problem with the driving test. They don't even take it, of course, they don't have licenses either so this doesn't count does it?

[smockers83]

I took a "practice test" on dmv.org, got 22/25 or 88%. Couldn't find a MI one online. Questions I missed were:

When you see a "Roadwork Ahead" sign you should...My answer: Slow down and look for the roadworkCorrect Answer: Look for roadwork

To stop in an emergency situation when your car does not have ABS brakes, you should...My answer: Pump the brakesCorrect answer: Apply steady hard pressure without locking up your wheels(I guess this question assumed dry conditions because usually the point of these questions is to test what ABS does to prevent wheel lock up and how one can do it manually...so dry conditions sure, but rain/snow, definitely not)

When you park your car uphill next to a curb, the right front wheel should be...My answer: turned to the right with the wheel touching the curbCorrect answer: turned to the left so the back of the wheel is against the curb(This one I'm not sure on because I was taught that when parking on a hill, you want to turn your wheels so that if your car does roll out of park, the car won't roll into traffic and rather into the curb, sidewalk, and/or car behind you instead, hence to the right)

[ishkabibble]

I live in and work near Washington DC and they were right, we have some of the worst drivers in the country easy.

Yep... I've never seen such absolutely moronic driving as I have in DC. They all seem to have MD plates and think laws do not apply to them.

[BigMACKenzie]

Yep... I've never seen such absolutely moronic driving as I have in DC. They all seem to have MD plates and think laws do not apply to them.

I think its more that Dumb-@$$ Maryland drivers dont even know the rules in dc (no right turn on red ^^) so they cant follow them. But if they do know the rules then yes, the first reaction from a MD driver is "oh thats just for ppl who dont drive BMW's (<~~~insert any car type here)

[WDRacing]

They need to take those same people, give them each a sixer then let them out on a controlled road course and let them compete for the fastest times. Cause atleast the results from that test wouldn't suck.

Or...take the guys the write these tests, give them boxing gloves and let them all fight Mike Tyson at the same time...again, results that don't suck.

[C-Kwik]

Personally, I'd like to see them make the written tests much harder. Given my background investigating insurance claims, its very clear that people truly have no idea about the rules of the road (which is further backed by my personal observations when I'm on the road). However, I would like to see more relevant questions, but they still should require people to know the more relevant laws well.

I missed one question on my last written test a year ago and I actually answered it right according to the CA vehicle code. They chose a much safer answer, which is fine with me, but from a technical perspective based on the wording of the law, my answer was actually right.