SURVEY: Does your state have the smartest drivers... or the dumbest?
Raise your hand if you think your home state has the worst drivers in America. Now, lower your hands if you don't happen to live in either New York or New Jersey. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean that the average driver in your particular state is all that great, regardless of what city you choose to call home. According to this year's GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test, an alarming 20.1% of licensed Americans would not pass a written drivers test exam if taken today.For what it's worth, those people who couldn't manage to pass the basic driving test amount to roughly 41 million drivers that are currently piloting two-ton weapons of mass destruction on American roads. Before you get all up in arms over this news, consider taking the test yourself. Even if you pass, you might pick up on a few valuable reminders that may have slipped your mind at some point since you last took the test, probably at just 16 years of age or so.
Oh, the states that have the smartest drivers? That would be Idaho and Wisconsin, which tied for first place with an average test score of 80.6 percent.
[Source: GMAC Insurance | Photo: fireflythegreat - cc 2.0]
PRESS RELEASE:
41 Million Licensed Americans May be Unfit for Roads, According to Fifth Annual GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test
Most Knowledgeable Drivers in Idaho and Wisconsin, Least Knowledgeable in New York; Economic Concerns Trigger "Drive Less" Trends Across U.S.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C - Results from the 2009 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test released today found that 20.1 percent of licensed Americans - amounting to roughly 41 million drivers on the road - would not pass a written drivers test exam if taken today. When probed on driving behavior, 30 percent of those surveyed say financial strains have triggered a desire to drive less and seek out new ways to save money.
Contacts
Overall, findings from the fifth annual survey indicate the number of drivers with knowledge of basic road rules is decreasing, with this year's test scores lower than last year's (76.6 percent vs. 78.1 percent).
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.
"When we began this campaign five years ago, we embarked on a mission to help drivers become more aware of the rules of the road," said Wade Bontrager, senior vice president, Affinity Division, GMAC Insurance. "We've seen the results ebb and flow, and this year, scores are down. This reiterates the fact that each and every one of us need to continually be brushing up on safe driving practices."
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.
Survey Says: Economic Concerns Causing People to Drive Less
In addition to the 20-question DMV exam, GMAC Insurance posed subsequent questions exploring participants' planned driving habits for the following year and their take on mileage-based auto insurance programs (pay-as-you-drive insurance). These findings reveal:
* Approximately 30 percent of drivers surveyed reported they plan on driving less within the following 12 months, with the primary reason being "worry over the economy" (74 percent). Twenty-four percent indicated they plan on driving less to "reduce expenses due to financial problems."
* Ninety-three percent of respondents had never heard of a "pay as you go insurance" pricing model for automobile insurance.
* However, one-in-three drivers (35 percent) would enroll in a "pay as you go insurance" program, such as the GMAC Insurance Low-Mileage Discount (OnStar.GMACInsurance.com), if their insurance company offered one.
State Rankings
Where are the most knowledgeable drivers in the nation? The following is a complete list of state rankings for the 2009 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test.
1. ID 17. WA 35. KY
1. WI 19. NM 36. PA
3. MT 20. NC 37. LA
4. KS 21. VA 38. TN
5. SD 22. IN 38. MS
5. NE 22. MI 40. SC
7. UT 24. AR 40. MD
8. WY 24. TX 42. CT
8. IA 26. AL 43. FL
8. OR 26. NV 44. DC
8. MN 28. WV 45. MA
12. AK 29. IL 46. RI
12. ND 30. AZ 47. GA
14. VT 31. ME 48. CA
15. CO 32. DE 49. HI
15. MO 33. NH 50. NJ
17. OK 34. OH 51. NY
The survey, which polled more than 5,000 licensed Americans from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, is designed to gauge driver knowledge by administering 20 actual questions taken from state Department of Motor Vehicles exams. The margin of error for the total sample surveyed is 1.4 percent.
Get in the Driver's Seat: Take the Test Yourself
GMAC Insurance encourages the public to put their skills to the test at www.gmacinsurance.com. Play a quirky driving game, take the written test itself, compare your score to the national average and challenge friends to top your score via email and Facebook. Also, see how your state ranked in previous years and, most importantly, brush up on safe driving tips.
The GMAC Insurance survey was administered by TNS, a leading market information resource and the world's largest provider of custom research and analysis. The national sample was comprised of 5,183 licensed drivers in the United States, aged 16-60+. For more information about TNS, please visit www.tns-us.com.
For more information about GMAC Insurance coverage and to find a local independent agent, call 877-468-3466, or visit www.gmacinsurance.com.
The GMAC Insurance Group is one of the largest automobile insurers in the United States and is a wholly owned subsidiary of GMAC Financial Services. GMAC Insurance Personal Lines offers a variety of property and casualty products, including personal auto, RV, motorcycle, commercial auto and homeowners insurance. With a nationwide network of claims professionals, local independent agents and a 24-hour, toll-free claims hotline available 365 days a year, GMAC Insurance provides superior claims service for its customers.
About GMAC Financial Services
GMAC Financial Services is a bank holding company with operations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. GMAC specializes in automotive finance, real estate finance, insurance, commercial finance and online banking. As of Dec. 31, 2008, the organization had $189 billion in assets and serviced 15 million customers around the world. Visit the GMAC media site at media.gmacfs.com for more information.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
JasonK 5:10PM (6/05/2009)
That's why personal injury lawyers from NY make the most money. cha ching
Reply
Tyler 5:09PM (6/05/2009)
Wisconsin represent!
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Rob 5:41PM (6/05/2009)
I'm from WI, but I'm outta this place. Way WAY too much road salt to be a car enthusiast here. It ruins everything. That and Milwaukee's streets look like a third world country.
Dan 6:13PM (6/05/2009)
Milwaukee's resemblance to a third world country runs beyond pavement.
swimstarguy 6:47PM (6/05/2009)
Wisconsin blows.
I've been living here for ~15 years now.
Road salt
Crappy roads
Near Minnesota
Horrible drivers (don't care what the survey says)
Cold.
It is not a drivers state at all.
Tim 10:31PM (6/05/2009)
Illinois drivers hate wisconsin drivers. You guys are just too safe
HJC 2 8:18AM (6/06/2009)
TOO MANY DRUNK DRIVERS IN WI.
but I guess they can pass the drivers test
Zack 5:10PM (6/05/2009)
I got an 80%
and i'm 13
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rsg115 5:11PM (6/05/2009)
Took it, passed with a 95%. The one question I missed I disagree with personally. However, most Texans cannot drive, oh well.
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Wobbly_ears 5:16PM (6/05/2009)
As a Houstonian, I agree, Texans (esp Houstonians) just can't drive.
Sad to say.
Jake 5:35PM (6/05/2009)
The bad driving in Texas is directly proportional to the per capita of immigrants from California. Austin = worse than Houston
Smegley 6:15PM (6/05/2009)
I got 95% too. I missed the safe following distance question.
I said 3 seconds, the test says 10 seconds.
I think the test is wrong on that because if there is only a car every 10 seconds, then at 60mph there will be a following distance of 880 feet between cars, or only 6 cars per mile of roadway.
At 3 seconds it would be about 250 feet, which is about 12 car lengths, and that should be plenty unless a driver is braindead.
Smegley 6:17PM (6/05/2009)
or maybe I clicked the wrong box. I know I meant to click 3 secs
gerrrg 6:28PM (6/05/2009)
Same here, got the 3 second rule wrong - thought it was 10. Should have known that one. Got a 95% - Go Oregon.
camarosrus 10:46PM (6/07/2009)
Smegley; Here in Kansas, and on the Allstate commercial, they recomend 2 seconds. I have seen safe driving videos that say 3 seconds. Its interesting that you missed that one as well, because I thought I put 3 seconds and when it graded me it showed me answering 20 seconds. I had a 95% as well.
andy 5:12PM (6/05/2009)
NY and NJ have the worst drivers. WHAT A SHOCK
I lived in NJ for 6 years and i found out blinkers are optional and traffic lights are just a suggestion.
Reply
andy 5:17PM (6/05/2009)
I've never been to Cali but i heard there worse
Miacol 5:52PM (6/05/2009)
I live in Jersey now, and boy are these people idiots wish I was back in NY. Moving to Florida, need heat, hopefully they drive better.
Rick C. 2:59PM (6/06/2009)
Too many illegal aliens in CA that a) Don't speak English b) Don't care
Farris 6:44PM (6/05/2009)
A buddy of mine went to Vegas a couple years back and said the same thing about traffic lights. When you're stopped at a red, you wait about 3 seconds AFTER it goes green before you go. People run reds there like the run yellows everywhere else.
Also, that has got to be the most difficult to read list of values EVER.