2008 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test Executive Summary

As Memorial Day Weekend kicks off the summer driving season, results from the fourth annual GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test indicate that too many licensed drivers lack basic driving knowledge. A pool of 5,524 survey participants representative of the US Census drawn from all 50 states and the District of Columbia completed 20 questions taken from actual written Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) tests.  The results were eye opening.

Key Findings

  • If taken today, 16.4 percent of drivers on the road – amounting to roughly 33 million licensed Americans – would not pass a written drivers test exam
  • The national average score was 78.1 percent
  • Kansas drivers ranked first in the nation (average score of 84.0 percent; New Jersey drivers ranked last (average score of 69.9 percent)
  • With Age Comes Wisdom: The older the driver, the higher the test score
  • While average test scores between the genders were similar, women were more likely to fail the test than men (20 percent versus 13 percent)

Regional Rankings

  • Rankings upset: Kansas replaced Idaho’s 2007 ranking as most knowledgeable in the nation; New Jersey replaced New York’s 2007 ranking as least knowledgeable
  • In general, geographical regions ranked similarly to previous years:  New York, New Jersey, District of Columbia and Massachusetts ranked within the last five places for the past three years
  • The Northeast had the lowest average test scores (76 percent) and the highest failure rates (19.8 percent)
  • The Midwest had the highest average test scores (81 percent) and the lowest failure rates (11 percent)
  • Oregon, which came in first place for the first two years of the test, has dropped to eighth place in 2008, with an average score of 80.9 percent
  • Wyoming and Nebraska have risen in rank to the second and third place up from 11 and 12 last year respective

Stumpted Questions: Where America is Lacking

  • Eighty-four percent could not identify the correct action to take when approaching a steady yellow traffic light, and 73 percent could not properly identify a typical safe following distance from the car in front of them
  • Nearly half (47 percent) don’t know how many feet to signal before making right or left turns
  •  Forty-three percent are unaware of the meaning of a diamond-shaped sign (warning sign)
  • Fortunately, 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.

Survey Says:  Test Standardization Preferred

  • Approximately three in five (58 percent) believe that permit or license applicants should be required to take a standard, national written driver’s test with questions applying to all 50 states
    • 19 percent do not believe there should be a standard test
    • 20 percent are undecided
    • Three percent say it doesn’t matter
    • Males were more likely to respond in favor of standardization than females
  • Nearly two-thirds (78 percent) believe that each state should have the same basic traffic safety regulations, such as speed limit, parking regulations and pedestrian right-of-way
    • 11 percent do not believe each state should have the same regulations
    • 10 percent are undecided
    • One percent say it doesn’t matter
  • Approximately two in three (63 percent) believe that drivers should be required to re-take the DMV road test after a certain age
    • 19 percent do not believe a retest should be required
    • 17 percent are undecided
    • One percent say it doesn’t matter
  • Of those who believe the test should be retaken:
    • 87 percent say it should be no earlier than age 60; 44 percent say 70+, 32 percent say 60+, 10 percent say 80+ and one percent say 90+
    • 13 percent say it should be before age 60
    • 41 percent think the test should be retaken each year, 56 percent say every five years and three percent say every 10 years