A lot of people think and openly admit that most car drivers are blind, dangerous or a combination of both. They're not necessarily wrong, but how can you prove it? And just how widespread is this phenomenon?
Well, according to a new study by GMAC Insurance, 1 in 5 drivers on the road today cannot meet the basic requirements to get a driver's licence, meaning that 36.9 million American drivers would not pass the written drivers test if taken today and likely adopt reckless habits behind the wheel.
Overall, 85 percent of those surveyed could not identify the correct action to take when approaching a steady yellow traffic light, and only a quarter were aware of safe following distances.
Kansas drivers are once again the safest on the road, while those in the District of Columbia and the state of New York are dead last with nearly 1 in 3 drivers failing the test.
The results also show that men have a better knowledge of road safety laws. One in 4 women failed the test (27.2 percent versus 13.6 percent for men). Overall, males out-performed their female counterparts with an average score of 80.2 percent versus 74.1 percent.
And contrary to popular belief, the oldest drivers tested, ages 60-65, continued to have the highest average scores at 80.3 percent. Looks like their deteriorating vision is the source of wrongful accusations.
Want to know how you stack up? Feel free to test your driving smarts at www.gmacinsurance.com (U.S. specific).
Well, according to a new study by GMAC Insurance, 1 in 5 drivers on the road today cannot meet the basic requirements to get a driver's licence, meaning that 36.9 million American drivers would not pass the written drivers test if taken today and likely adopt reckless habits behind the wheel.
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Overall, 85 percent of those surveyed could not identify the correct action to take when approaching a steady yellow traffic light, and only a quarter were aware of safe following distances.
Kansas drivers are once again the safest on the road, while those in the District of Columbia and the state of New York are dead last with nearly 1 in 3 drivers failing the test.
The results also show that men have a better knowledge of road safety laws. One in 4 women failed the test (27.2 percent versus 13.6 percent for men). Overall, males out-performed their female counterparts with an average score of 80.2 percent versus 74.1 percent.
And contrary to popular belief, the oldest drivers tested, ages 60-65, continued to have the highest average scores at 80.3 percent. Looks like their deteriorating vision is the source of wrongful accusations.
Want to know how you stack up? Feel free to test your driving smarts at www.gmacinsurance.com (U.S. specific).