June 2006 - Study Estimates 18 Million Americans May Be Unfit Drivers

Results from the second annual GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test suggest that licensed Americans continue to lack basic driving knowledge and exhibit alarming behaviors on the road. The study revealed that one in eleven drivers – nearly 18 million people – would fail a State’s driver’s test. Furthermore, the study shows drivers deliberately disregard pedestrians and treat driving as the new “down time,” where they catch up on the day’s activities, diverting their attention from the road.

Licensed drivers were administered 20 questions found on a typical DMV written driver’s test. The 2006 findings indicate drivers do not have adequate knowledge of basic rules of the road, and they exhibit bad habits behind the wheel.

Overall, drivers in the Northeast region are most apt to fail the test, with State failure rates of 16 percent or more. Drivers in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest regions are the most knowledgeable, with State failure rates ranging from 1 percent to 7 percent. Drivers under 35 years old are most likely to fail a written driving test (18-24 year olds have the lowest average test scores); experienced drivers ages 35-60+, are most likely to pass a written driving test.

Findings of the study included:

Pedestrian Protocol

Roughly 1 in 3 drivers don’t usually stop for pedestrians – even if they’re in a crosswalk or at a yellow light. At least 1 out of 5 drivers do not know that a pedestrian has the right of way at a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

Driving is the New “Down Time”

American drivers engage in a variety of distracting behaviors, like chatting on a cell phone, sending text messages, e-mailing friends, selecting songs on portable devices, applying makeup, changing clothes, and reading. Eating and talking on a cell phone while driving are by far the most common activities (42% eat and 40% chat on cell phones). Younger drivers aged 18-24 who are accustomed to always being “plugged in” have the most mentions for every distracting situation while driving.

More Bad Driving Habits

Nearly one-quarter of Americans believe there are circumstances in which it’s acceptable to not wear a seatbelt. One in seven Americans have packed their car so tightly that their vision was obstructed. At least 1 in 5 drivers do not know when to properly use their high-beam headlights, or what to do when bright headlights come at them at night, or that highways are the most slippery just when it starts to rain after a dry spell. In fact, the last question was the one most often answered incorrectly, for the second year in a row - fortunately, 97 percent of those tested know what to do when they hydroplane.

An Executive Summary of the research can be accessed at www.gmacinsurance.com/SafeDriving/2006/NDT2006_ES.asp.

COPYRIGHT ©2005, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

The information contained in this publication was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. ISO Services Properties, Inc., its companies and employees make no guarantee of results and assume no liability in connection with either the information herein contained or the safety suggestions herein made. Moreover, it cannot be assumed that every acceptable safety procedure is contained herein or that abnormal or unusual circumstances may not warrant or require further or additional procedure.