The Nation's Worst Drivers Live Here

[earwig]

I came across this article on Netscape's homepage... and since we all ride bikes I figured I would share it:

The Nation's Worst Drivers Live Here

Beware the Northeast states! The nation's dumbest drivers live there if the second annual GMAC Insurance National Driver's Test is right.

The startling results: Nearly 18 million Americans--that would be one in 11 drivers--would fail their state driver's test if they had to take it today. (That's a slight improvement from last year's 20 million or 1 in 10 drivers who would fail the test.)

In addition to surveying them about their general driving habits, GMAC gave its 20-question test to more than 5,000 licensed drivers between the ages of 16 and 60+. Those who live in the Northeast states did the worst with 16 percent failing the test. And of these states, Rhode Island scored the lowest with an average score of 75 percent. The state with the best drivers? That would be Oregon where drivers earned an average 91 percent on the test. A passing score is 70 percent.

Right behind Rhode Island on the list of bad drivers are (in order) those from the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Maryland. In addition to Oregon, the best drivers live in Washington, Vermont, Idaho, South Dakota and Montana.

Here's the really scary part: The study results suggest that many Americans exhibit shocking driving behaviors that not only endanger themselves, but jeopardize others both on and off the road. Roughly one in three drivers usually does not stop for pedestrians--even if they're in a crosswalk or at a yellow light. Forty-three percent of all pedestrian injuries and 22 percent of fatal injuries to pedestrians occur in collisions with motor vehicles at intersections. In addition, many pedestrians are killed on sidewalks, median strips and traffic islands.

All of this explains why pedestrians constitute the second largest category of motor vehicle crash deaths after vehicle occupants, accounting for 11 percent of fatalities, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Beware other drivers! The study unearthed a growing trend in which Americans treat driving as a time to catch up on activities they didn't get to in their hectic day. Results show that while driving, American drivers engage in a variety of distracting behaviors, including eating, chatting on a cell phone, sending text messages, e-mailing friends, selecting songs on iPods, applying makeup, changing clothes and reading. Drivers between 18 and 24 are the worst offenders when it comes to multitasking behind the wheel.

Hey, be careful out there!

[JC Viper]

Well, considering in the US driving is more of a right than a privilege as in other parts of the world.

The sad thing is that riding motorcycles will take the blame so to speak as a danger on the road.

Funny... California has LA and from what I heard and would've figured it be right behind NY.

[-Holiday]

your link takes me to a new car review page.

I didnt really read your article, but does that fact that the northeast is a huge metropolis where millions and millions of people live have anything to do with the prevelance of bad drivers?

[Chris8187]

Even though pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks and stuff, I never really get why some still don't hesitate or "hurry up" going through the street. It takes only once to get hit by some guy in a car to hurt them severely.

[Nalian]

I believe it about MA, the drivers here are northing short of horrible.

[earwig]

your link takes me to a new car review page.

I didnt really read your article, but does that fact that the northeast is a huge metropolis where millions and millions of people live have anything to do with the prevelance of bad drivers?

The think should work now. I am not sure why the location would matter.

[-Holiday]

your link takes me to a new car review page.

I didnt really read your article, but does that fact that the northeast is a huge metropolis where millions and millions of people live have anything to do with the prevelance of bad drivers?

The think should work now. I am not sure why the location would matter.

for the same reason nyc cab drivers are known to be some of the most aggresive, crappy drivers.

environment dictates the drivers bad habits in many cases.

i have driven in manhattan, and i have driven in backwoods Oregon, and there is a noticable difference in how people drive. I'd be willing to bet environment plays a huge part in that, and I'd go futher to say a more populious, cramped envronment is not going to breed the drivers with the best/safest habits.

[earwig]

your link takes me to a new car review page.

I didnt really read your article, but does that fact that the northeast is a huge metropolis where millions and millions of people live have anything to do with the prevelance of bad drivers?

The think should work now. I am not sure why the location would matter.

for the same reason nyc cab drivers are known to be some of the most aggresive, crappy drivers.

environment dictates the drivers bad habits in many cases.

i have driven in manhattan, and i have driven in backwoods Oregon, and there is a noticable difference in how people drive. I'd be willing to bet environment plays a huge part in that, and I'd go futher to say a more populious, cramped envronment is not going to breed the drivers with the best/safest habits.

Ah, yes I agree, I guess I was referring to the tests that they give the people in these studies.

[The Grinch]

Plot population density versus crappiness of the drivers and I'm sure you'll see a strong correlation.

[flynrider]

Ah, yes I agree, I guess I was referring to the tests that they give the people in these studies.

I'm of the opinion that most people would fail the basic written drivers test. Every time I ride to work and back, I pass through 3 intersections with a four way stop. I'm convinced that better than half of the driving population has no clue about the proper procedure for a four way stop. Some refuse to go when they're supposed to, others go when they're not supposed to. They seem to do it at random.

Last week I witnessed an interesting accident on a major 6-lane street. A gal in the far left lane decided that she should be in the right lane. I saw her signal come on and she shot across 3 lanes and collided with a car in the right lane. Since I was a witness, I stopped and waited for the cops. Later, I heard her explaining to the cop that, since her turn signal was on, it was the other driver's duty to get out of her way. I thought I was misunderstanding something, but it turned out the she seriously believed that her turn signal automatically gave her the right of way over all other traffic. Where do poeple get these crazy notions, and why do I have to share the road with them?