Despite the record-breaking gas prices, many families still plan to take to the highways this summer. If your summer road trip includes driving to the Northeast portion of the U.S.–beware. According to a new study, that’s where you will find some of the country’s worst drivers.
Recently, GMAC Insurance administered a test – “similar to a traditional licensing test at the local DMV.” The written test measured basic knowledge of traffic laws and safety. Of the more than 5,000 drivers tested, “nearly 10% were unable to answer enough questions correctly to achieve a passing score of 70.” Test results showed that one out of 10 drivers regularly exceeds the speed limit by 11 or more miles per hour, with drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 years showed the greatest propensity for speeding. In fact, the study revealed that one out of three drivers actually speeds up to make a yellow light, even when pedestrians are present.
So where do the majority of these clueless drivers live? Survey says: Rhode Island. The average test score there was 77, just eight points above a failing grade. Drivers in Washington, D.C. were second worst, Massachusetts, third worst, with New Jersey and New York, fourth and fifth worst respectively. The failure rates in the region averaged 16%.
Almost directly across the country, drivers in the Pacific Northwest earned the highest marks and were named the nation’s most knowledgeable drivers. In those states, less than three percent failed the test. Oregon and Washington drivers knew the rules of the road best. In Oregon, the average test score was 89. According to the study, overall, drivers not only lack basic road knowledge, but exhibit dangerous driving behavior as well. For example, younger drivers, who took the test, admitted that they do everything from applying makeup to fiddling with iPods while driving. While about 1 in 4 admitted to sending text messages from a cell phone while behind the wheel.
Are you surprised by the results? I was surprised that the two states that I have encountered the worst drivers; Illinois and Georgia received decent rankings. (Illinois ranked #22 and Georgia #30.) I have lived in both states and found that unless you are going 90 mph, in any lane, you aren’t welcome on the highway. Wisconsin, the state where I currently reside, did well, landing just outside the top ten. That surprised me since I routinely encounter drivers who have no clue what a crosswalk is, let alone care that pedestrians in it have the right of way. Hawaii, the state where I earned my driver’s license ranked #45 out of 51. No surprise there either. It’s hard to practice the rules of the roads when some of the islands don’t have traffic lights.
To see how your state fared visit www.moneycentral.msn.com
Also, before you head out on your summer road trip check out these articles:
· Preparing For Your Road Trip Part 1
· Preparing For Your Road Trip Part 2
· Preparing For Your Road Trip Part 3