I thought Jersey had the worst drivers. Where the Worst Drivers Live The worst drivers in America live in New York. Of course, you knew that. You've been in the Holland Tunnel. But now, we have proof. GMAC Insurance has released the results of its National Drivers Test for 2009. The test, which measures basic knowledge of driving laws, was given to more than 5,000 drivers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia -- and New Yorkers finished last. Last year's loser, New Jersey, improved its score just enough to leap over New York. Hawaii, California and Georgia rounded out the bottom five. Idaho and Wisconsin drivers tied for the highest average score, with an 80.6. The point of the test, of course, is not just to confirm what anyone who's tried to merge onto the Thruway already knew. It's to measure how much we know about safe driving. And the news isn't good. In a press release, GMAC explains, "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." Most of us have trouble, according to the results, with "questions about yellow lights and safe following distances." The survey has been given for five years. The average score has fluctuated up and down during that time, but this year it is down - 76.6 percent versus last year's 78.1. GMAC notes, "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)." And, "The older the driver, the higher the test score." Drivers over 35 were more likely to pass than those under 35, while men over 45 posted the highest scores, and "the age group with the highest failure rates was young adults (18 to 24 years old)." Curious how you'd do? Take the test yourself at nationaldriverstest.com. When you're finished, GMAC will even let you play a video game that teaches you how to avoid elderly people and aliens in the roadway (no, we're not kidding). State Rankings Note: Many states tied for the same position in the rankings. 1 IDAHO 1 WISCONSIN 3 MONTANA 4 KANSAS 5 SOUTH DAKOTA 5 NEBRASKA 7 UTAH 8 WYOMING 8 IOWA 8 OREGON 8 MINNESOTA 12 ALASKA 12 NORTH DAKOTA 14 VERMONT 15 COLORADO 15 MISSOURI 17 OKLAHOMA 17 WASHINGTON 19 NEW MEXICO 20 NORTH CAROLINA 21 VIRGINIA 22 INDIANA 22 MICHIGAN 24 ARKANSAS 24 TEXAS 26 ALABAMA 26 NEVADA 28 WEST VIRGINIA 29 ILLINOIS 30 ARIZONA 31 MAINE 32 DELAWARE 33 NEW HAMPSHIRE 34 OHIO 35 KENTUCKY 36 PENNSYLVANIA 37 LOUISIANA 38 TENNESSEE 38 MISSISSIPPI 40 SOUTH CAROLINA 40 MARYLAND 42 CONNECTICUT 43 FLORIDA 44 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 45 MASSACHUSETTS 46 RHODE ISLAND 47 GEORGIA 48 CALIFORNIA 49 HAWAII 50 NEW JERSEY 51 NEW YORK http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/aut...xNDkEc2VjA2ZwLXRvZGF5BHNsawN3b3JzdC1kcml2ZXJz
They should try driving in Manilla. New York taxi drivers couldn't even cut it. One interesting rule there, if you are about to pass a pedestrian walking at the edge of a narrow road two short beeps lets them know you are there. One long beep lets them know they are dead. The only other rule is that there are no other rules.
1. Many of New York Cab Drivers are from India. If you ever went to India, you would realize York Cab Drivers drive like Indians 2. Following from the above: As someone has said "never drive in a country where people believe in an afterlife"
Let me just officially say for the record that the very worst drivers, by far and wide margins, are Asians. Never, EVER get near an Asian female or male between the ages of around 35-65, driving her Camry or Accord or his Civic or Altima, especially at night. You'll never know what hit you. Treat them like you would drunk drivers.
I suspect that density or population is a major factor. For example, Montana and Idaho as near the best and NJ/NY near the bottom. When all you have to do is drive on uncongested interstates, you will look like a REALLY good driver. But driving the Garden State Parkway or the GW bridge with a zillion other angry motorists is going to have a major impact on your psychology and driving skills.
Sorry folks ... the award for clueless drivers goes to Southern California .... there is simply no argument.