Many Divers Are Clueless
Survey: Many drivers are clueless
The poll found that most people don't know how to react to a yellow traffic light.
By Karen Datko
This post comes from Mark Huffman at partner siteConsumerAffairs.com.
One reason highways are hazardous is because too many drivers don't know what they are doing, an insurance company study suggests.
GMAC Insurance conducted an online survey, posing 20 questions taken from state driver's-license exams. The results showed that many respondents might have flunked if it had been a real test.
For example, 85% of respondents did not know how to react to a traffic signal when the light is yellow. Others showed confusion on other questions or admitted to unsafe habits like texting while driving.
If the test results were averaged out nationally, the study suggests that nearly 20% of licensed drivers -- some 38 million motorists -- "may be unfit for roads" and wouldn't pass a state-issued written exam if taken today, the study said. The national average score was 76.2%, falling from 76.6% in 2009 and 78.1% in 2008.
"It's discouraging to see that overall average test scores are lower than last year," said Wade Bontrager, a senior vice president of GMAC Insurance. "American drivers need to make safety a top priority and be aware of the rules of the road at all times. The National Drivers Test allows everyone to brush up on their driving knowledge with a brief refresher course."
Score breakdown
Where are the nation's worst drivers? Motorists from New York had the worst record on the survey, followed by drivers in New Jersey, Washington, California and Rhode Island.
Drivers in Kansas did the best, followed by Oregon, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. In general, drivers in the Midwest seemed to be the most informed about the rules of the road, while drivers in the Northeast fared worst.
Men over age 45 tended to score the highest, the survey shows, while men overall outscored women, who admitted to engaging in more distracting behavior while behind the wheel.
Lack of attention
Additional questions from the survey reveal that drivers conduct a variety of distracting behaviors behind the wheel. Approximately one in four participants admitted to driving while talking on a cell phone, eating and adjusting the radio or selecting songs on an iPod. However, only 5% reported they text while driving.
Survey: Many drivers are clueless
The poll found that most people don't know how to react to a yellow traffic light.
By Karen Datko
This post comes from Mark Huffman at partner siteConsumerAffairs.com.
One reason highways are hazardous is because too many drivers don't know what they are doing, an insurance company study suggests.
GMAC Insurance conducted an online survey, posing 20 questions taken from state driver's-license exams. The results showed that many respondents might have flunked if it had been a real test.
For example, 85% of respondents did not know how to react to a traffic signal when the light is yellow. Others showed confusion on other questions or admitted to unsafe habits like texting while driving.
If the test results were averaged out nationally, the study suggests that nearly 20% of licensed drivers -- some 38 million motorists -- "may be unfit for roads" and wouldn't pass a state-issued written exam if taken today, the study said. The national average score was 76.2%, falling from 76.6% in 2009 and 78.1% in 2008.
"It's discouraging to see that overall average test scores are lower than last year," said Wade Bontrager, a senior vice president of GMAC Insurance. "American drivers need to make safety a top priority and be aware of the rules of the road at all times. The National Drivers Test allows everyone to brush up on their driving knowledge with a brief refresher course."
Score breakdown
Where are the nation's worst drivers? Motorists from New York had the worst record on the survey, followed by drivers in New Jersey, Washington, California and Rhode Island.
Drivers in Kansas did the best, followed by Oregon, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. In general, drivers in the Midwest seemed to be the most informed about the rules of the road, while drivers in the Northeast fared worst.
Men over age 45 tended to score the highest, the survey shows, while men overall outscored women, who admitted to engaging in more distracting behavior while behind the wheel.
Lack of attention
Additional questions from the survey reveal that drivers conduct a variety of distracting behaviors behind the wheel. Approximately one in four participants admitted to driving while talking on a cell phone, eating and adjusting the radio or selecting songs on an iPod. However, only 5% reported they text while driving.
Overall, a significantly higher percentage of females than males reported engaging in the following distracting situations: conversation with passengers, selecting songs on an iPod or CD or adjusting the radio, talking on a cell phone, eating, applying makeup and reading.
More from ConsumerAffairs.com and MSN Money:
Overall, a significantly higher percentage of females than males reported engaging in the following distracting situations: conversation with passengers, selecting songs on an iPod or CD or adjusting the radio, talking on a cell phone, eating, applying makeup and reading.
More from ConsumerAffairs.com and MSN Money:
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