America's worst drivers live in...

[popdaddy57]

America's worst drivers live in ...
Nearly 10% of America's drivers couldn't pass a DMV licensing test if they had to take it today. Could you? Plus: See how your state fared.

By MSN Money staff

At least one of every five drivers doesn't know when to use bright lights, how to follow directional arrows or when highways are the most slippery, results from a national driver's test show.

GMAC Insurance administered a 20-question test -- similar to a traditional licensing test at the local DMV – to 5,288 drivers and released the results last week. Of those tested, nearly 10% were unable to answer enough questions correctly to achieve a passing score of 70.

If the test results are any guide, America's pedestrians are in deep, deep trouble.

• 20% of drivers do not know that a pedestrian has the right of way at a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
• 1 in 3 drivers don’t usually stop for pedestrians – even if they’re in a crosswalk or at a yellow light.
• One-third admit they speed up to make a yellow light even when pedestrians are in the crosswalk.

More frightening? Drivers in the heavily urbanized Northeast scored the worst..

Oregon tops; Rhode Island worst
The lowest average score came out of Rhode Island, whose drivers in the sample averaged a 75.1; more than a quarter of Rhode Island drivers in the sample failed the test. The District of Columbia, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New York posted average scores almost as low, and failure rates in the region averaged 16%.

Drivers in Oregon, on the other hand, averaged a score of 90.6, and the Northwest overall had the most knowledgeable drivers, with failure rates below 7%.

Drivers older than 35 were not only more likely to pass, they were less likely to treat their time behind the wheel as "down time." Younger drivers, though, reported doing everything from applying makeup to fiddling with iPods at much higher rates. About 1 in 4 had sent text messages from a cell phone; 8% had changed clothes while driving.

"The rules of the road should not be something you learn once when you are 16 years old," says 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."

How did your state score?RankStateScoreRankStateScore1Oregon90.627Arkansas8 3.82Washington88.228Virginia83.53Vermont87.529Ariz ona83.44Idaho87.330Georgia83.24South Dakota87.330Louisiana83.26Montana87.232North Carolina83.17Nebraska8732Maine83.18Kansas86.834Ohi o839Iowa86.735Oklahoma82.910Wyoming86.236Alabama82 .811Wisconsin86.137Missouri82.712Minnesota8637Dela ware82.713Alaska85.839Nevada82.614California85.640 South Carolina82.315Indiana85.240Florida82.315Colorado85 .242Pennsylvania82.117Michigan85.143New Mexico81.518North Dakota8544Connecticut80.919West Virginia84.845Hawaii80.720Utah84.546Maryland79.521 Mississippi84.447New York79.422Illinois84.348New Jersey78.623Tennessee84.248Massachusetts78.624Texa s8450District of Columbia76.524Kentucky8451Rhode Island75.126New Hampshire83.9Source: GMAC Insurance

[Nap]

Good post.....very interesting.

before I even looked at the results I would have said CT is the worst followed by MA (my state) and RI. I wasn't that far off....lol.

I've been all over the country for work and with out a doubt NE drivers are the worst.

[popdaddy57]

I would almost have guessed that too, even though I haven't been up north that much. I figured the parts of the country with the most traffic congestion would have the worst drivers, while those in the more open spaces, like Oregon maybe (haven't been there either) would have the best. California's ranking surprised me, since it has several big cities and Sandi, but I guess the rest of the population made up for it.

[StormNISMO]

I know where the worst drivers are!!! It is right here in Colorado, and I'm not talkin about book knowledge of driving, I'm talking about driving know how and common courtesy!! The problem here in Colorado is that their Drivers Ed courses here are very limited, and we have so many transplants (myself included) here from all across the country that all of the driving styles from each place just clash. There are really bad drivers everywhere but most of those bad drivers don't live in big cities because if they did they would learn to move real fast or they would get shot!! (well maybe just honked at alot)

[popdaddy57]

Originally Posted by StormNISMO

I know where the worst drivers are!!! It is right here in Colorado, and I'm not talkin about book knowledge of driving, I'm talking about driving know how and common courtesy!! The problem here in Colorado is that their Drivers Ed courses here are very limited, and we have so many transplants (myself included) here from all across the country that all of the driving styles from each place just clash. There are really bad drivers everywhere but most of those bad drivers don't live in big cities because if they did they would learn to move real fast or they would get shot!! (well maybe just honked at alot)

I'll admit, I tried driving in downtown New York City one time, and I got honked at a lot! I'm glad I didn't get shot. Guess I'll stay down here in the South where all I have to worry about is idiots who don't stop at Stop signs, don't use turn signals, and use turn signals but don't turn.

[reidcc]

I would have guessed that Mass drivers would have been right up there. Having spent a fair amount of time in South Carolina- I would think they would have been pretty low. NH I agree with as well-commuting to the northeast of Mass daily- I see many NH drivers here in Mass- they are about the same, only FASTER!!!

Chris

[JoshuaTest]

I know I know I know...

Is the answer "America" ???

[Mainerunr]

Originally Posted by reidcc

I would have guessed that Mass drivers would have been right up there. Having spent a fair amount of time in South Carolina- I would think they would have been pretty low. NH I agree with as well-commuting to the northeast of Mass daily- I see many NH drivers here in Mass- they are about the same, only FASTER!!!

Chris

I would have guessed mass as worst based on the ones that travel up here during the summer. I need to get a shrok bumper so I dont have to worry about ramming them when they cut me off....best part is it would be their fault for 'failure to clear'. sliders would help too I think, for the side impacts. skids not so much unless I end up on top of one of them...

seriously, big difference between knowing what you are supposed to do and actually doing it.

[igbar]

Here's a better view of the chart

[popdaddy57]

Thanks Iggy. I'm an idiot when it comes to computers and getting the stats to look right.