20% of Drivers Would Flunk Test

The nation’s most knowledgeable drivers are in Kansas, Oregon, South Dakota and Minnesota, while the least knowledgeable are in California, the District of Columbia, New Jersey and New York.

That’s according to results from the 2010 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test, which found that 20 percent of licensed Americans – amounting to roughly 28 million drivers on the road – would not pass a written drivers test exam if taken today.

Overall, the findings indicate the number of drivers with knowledge of basic road rules is decreasing, with this year’s test scores lower than last year’s (76.2 percent versus 76.6 percent).

In general, geographical regions ranked similarly to previous years, with the lowest average test scores in the Northeast, and the highest average test scores in the Midwest.

When comparing genders, men are still more likely to pass the test than women. The older the driver, the higher the test score. Drivers 45 years old were most likely to pass.

The survey also revealed that drivers continue to conduct a variety of distracting behaviors behind the wheel. Approximately 1-in-4 participants admitted to driving while talking on a cell phone, eating and adjusting the radio or selecting songs on an iPod. Only 5 percent reported texting while driving. A significantly higher percentage of females than males reported engaging in the following distracting situations: conversations with passengers, selecting songs on an iPod or CD/adjusting the radio, talking on a cell phone, eating, applying makeup and reading.

Drivers’ Test Western State Rankings

Source: 2009 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test