Alfdog

84 Percent Don't Know What To Do On Yellow Light

POSTED: 7:11 am PDT May 25, 2007
UPDATED: 7:28 am PDT May 25, 2007

What drivers think they know about the rules of the road might just get them in trouble someday.

According to the results from the 2007 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test, one in six drivers on the road -- roughly 36 million licensed Americans -- would not pass their written department of motor vehicles exam if they had taken today.

The third-annual survey by GMAC Insurance gauges driver knowledge of the rules of the road by testing licensed Americans on actual questions from state DMV license exams.

According to this year's results, New York drivers ousted Rhode Island by ranking last in all 50 states and the District of Columbia on driver knowledge.

Idaho, on the other hand, topped the list and dethroned Oregon's tenure at first place as the most knowledgeable drivers in the United States. While the national average score was 77.1 percent, New Yorkers had an average of 71 percent and the highest failure rates -- 36 percent; Idaho had an average score of 81.7 percent.

In general, geographical regions ranked similarly to previous years, with Arkansas, Minnesota, Kansas and Wisconsin ranking in the top five and New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the bottom five among all states.

"All Americans need a refresher course when it comes to basic driving rules," said Gary Kusumi, CEO and president of GMAC Insurance Personal Lines Division. "Being a safe driver is about conduct, judgment and knowledge. We're hoping this year's results encourage people to arm themselves with the knowledge they need to stay safe."

What Does Yellow Mean?

Respondents completed 20 questions drawn from actual DMV tests. GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test respondents found two questions particularly vexing this year, driving scores down across the board: 81 percent couldn't identify the proper following distance from the car in front of them -- the correct answer is two seconds.

Even more -- 84 percent -- couldn't identify the correct action to take when approaching a steady yellow traffic light -- which is to stop if it is safe to do so.

Other points of interest drawn from the 2007 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test include:

The older the driver, the higher the test score. Drivers 35-plus years old were most likely to pass.
More than half of respondents -- 55 percent -- don't know how many feet to signal before making right or left turns.
More than 2 in 5 drivers are unaware of the meaning of a diamond-shaped sign -- warning sign.
Nearly all respondents -- 98 percent -- know what to do when an emergency vehicle with flashing lights approaches, what to do when hydroplaning and the meaning of a solid yellow line.

South Atlantic Region Lowest

Illinois, Georgia, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Massachusetts were the least knowledgeable states overall, with average scores lower than 75 percent.

Idaho and Alaska were the most knowledgeable, with average scores over 81 percent.

Regions displaying the highest failure rates were the South Atlantic -- 20.8 percent -- and New England -- 15.7 percent.

Cliffzors: Yo momma's on crack rock

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MWPC Presidente , MW80's #001 , MWJC #002 , MWAN #011

NS

I could give two sh!ts about the paper test. I'm at the point where I want to build a Madd Maxx vehicle and run anyone off the road that slows down to look at an accident on the opposite side of the freeway. Fvck'n rubber-neckers.

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No.....**** you!

pawn

98% of mw wouldnt pass...unless the questions were about the 360 or folding

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wire

What do you do when hydroplaning?

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v6RIOT

slam on the brakes or pull the e-brake

NS

Correct answer: Take your foot off the gass and the brake, hold the wheel straight/maintain control of the vehicle.

MW answer: Pull the e-brake and cut the wheel hard to the right, you're now a professional drift racer

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No.....**** you!

wire

Ah, as I'd guessed - ty

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jrsy5oh

The fact that older drivers did better on the test makes the whole thing FUBAR.

I have always believed in retesting people's eye sight, and hearing every 10 years. That is the only thing that presumably would change if you have more and more experience.

Too many pig headed people get away with not getting glasses or hearing aids making it very dangerous for other people to drive on the same roads with them.

jrsy5oh

do a dance in your driver seat since you're tires are now ghost riding.

wiseguy

Would this be on a treadmill or a road and would I be doing this with my 22" brutha wheels?

Roffy

Everyone knows a yellow light means you have to give it some more gas so you can make it before the red light.

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Curt

Five Too Many.com

OFF

You wanna dance mutherfvcker??

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Don_Vitos broth

wave your hands in the air like you just dont care



i've actually had that happen to me before, just let off the gass and held onto the wheel and pointed her straight. all was fine

Crmsn_Ghost

New Yorkers are the scum of the highway.

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Crmsn_Ghost

Winner.

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P51-SN95

it's just all the idiots in NYC that don't know how to drive.

they're bringing down the rest of the state

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Sweetriverphil

I take serious offense to this.

Lunchbox

It's really not that hard. If you can stop and still maintain control of the vehicle, then do so. Are people really that dumb or did they all fall asleep at the same time during drivers ed

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NS

Hydroplaning means your wheels are no longer in contact with the road. You can't "stop" when you're hydroplaning. The best you can do, is take your foot off the gas and off the brake, keep control of the car, and let it slow down to the point where the wheels make contact with the road again. Then you can apply the brake and slowly come to a stop, or better yet, maintain a safe speed.

__________________
No.....**** you!