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Is it just your imagination, or do many of your fellow motorists lack even a rudimentary grasp of traffic laws?
Well, if a test administered by GMAC Insurance is any indication, one in six people cruising our highways and byways -- roughly 36 million licensed drivers -- would flunk their driver's test if they had to take it today. Not only that, but based on the 2007 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test data the state with the most road-going dummies is New York, while the most knowledgeable ones are out West to Idaho.
Is it just your imagination, or do many of your fellow motorists lack even a rudimentary grasp of traffic laws?
Well, if a test administered by GMAC Insurance is any indication, one in six people cruising our highways and byways -- roughly 36 million licensed drivers -- would flunk their driver's test if they had to take it today. Not only that, but based on the 2007 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test data the state with the most road-going dummies is New York, while the most knowledgeable ones are out West to Idaho.
I saw that on CNN this morning . ether he read it wrong , or the test were flawed. The sample question given " what do you do when encountering a flashing yellow "?..... correct answer........." slow down and stop if you can" ?????????????..... I hope the news guy read it flawed.!
My doctor's office is at the Southwest corner of a 4-lane divided state route and a side street. There is a service road in front of his office that is separated from the state route by a concrete curb. Northbound traffic has a "NO U-TURN" sign at this intersection, but it is perfectly legal to turn from the Northbound left lane onto the service road. Yet, people frequently go to the trouble to turn around in the doctor's office parking lot to enter the service road...DUH!
It's like math, it's amazing how much you forget when you don't use it everyday, i almost freeked when i found out i had to do the written test in NC http://bestsmileys.com/scared/5.gif (broken link) thanks to City Data i passed, plus alot of people are getting illegal or fake licenses so they never studied the laws in the first place.
The only "SURPRISE" to me is how LOW the figure is. I see about twice that amount.
The States really want the revenue more than they care about safety.
Then we wonder why so many people want to drive big gas gusslers....There afraid of all the idiots out there.
Even if you subtract out all the drunks and drug users, there is still a very large number of mentally challenged and arrogant drivers.
Sorry to be so negative but I have been driving legally for 56 years and have never had an accident that was my fault. It's about using good judgement and being considerate folks. Not to much of that out there these days.
We reap what we SOW.
If the results of survey is based on GMAC's test, well the results are flawed. I took the test and correctly answered everyone of them. But when I select "get your score" they so me at 85% correct. Hummm, I check the answers I supplied and they are correct. The score page indicated that I chose a different answer. TEST IS FLAWED. GMAC has no basis for this report, unless they resolve the problem and then republish their report correct findings. Take the test yourself and see what score is....
I wonder how low the test results would be if it was given in English only? I don't know about the rest of the states but it would not surprise me if Illinois made Spanish the official language.
I wonder how low the test results would be if it was given in English only? I don't know about the rest of the states but it would not surprise me if Illinois made Spanish the official language.
#1 - I'm suspect regarding any research that insurance companies conduct. It is in their best interest to convince others they they are taking your money for a good and valuable cause; but fundamentally insurance is a scam most Americans are completely or at least partially aware of.
#2 - Having driven internationally, I can tell you that drivers in the US are generally much more cautious and knowledgeable of traffic laws than others in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. I wouldn't say we have the best drivers in the world, but overall we're not that bad (visit Mumbai India or anywhere in Italy if you doubt me).
#3 - Let us call it the way it is, it isn't lack of traffic law knowledge that is the problem in the US or anywhere there are drivers... it is generally people choosing to ignore traffic laws which is the problem. Like when you're 16-19, haven't had an accident "yet," feel invincible, and conclude that driving the speed limit or following a law when no one else is apparently around or apparently in danger, that accidents do happen. It's also when you're 70+ years old with cruddy eyesight and slow reflexes and perhaps a slower mind than when younger, that you become a danger to others on the road because instead of keeping up with traffic you decide to be "extra cautious" and slow at changing lanes, merging into traffic, or doing anything on the road.
All that said, what really drives me nuts is when people don't use blinkers and when Indiana drivers turn their automobile's wheel to the right before making a left (or vice versa). It's tempting to not use blinkers when others aren't around, but it makes for a lousy and dangerous driving habit. Making wide turns like you're a trucker in a big rig when driving your car or minivan is just plain stupid.
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