Worst drivers in America by state
Filed under: Insurance, Transportation, Insurance - Car Insurance
Whenever I ride in a taxi in New York City, I marvel at the intestinal fortitude of the drivers who navigate pedestrians, potholes and other drivers who seem to have learned how to drive via a video game. And, according to a recent survey of driver knowledge by GMAC Insurance, it turns out that the awe these drivers inspire is justified. GMAC's sixth annual survey quizzed more than 5,200 licensed Americans from across the country on their driving knowledge and New York drivers fared the worst for the second year in a row, with an average score of 70 percent. That's more than six percentage points below the national average score of 76.2 percent. New Jersey residents shouldn't laugh too loudly at their neighbor's expense. Garden State drivers finished second to last. Kansas, on the other hand, proved to be the best place to drive with a score of 82.3 percent. Oregon, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska drivers were also among the best performers on the survey.
Overall, though, the findings were pretty dismal. The study found that "nearly 1 in 5 licensed drivers -- roughly 38 million Americans -- would not pass a written drivers test exam if taken today." A whopping 85 percent could not identify the correct action to take when approaching a steady yellow traffic light (hint: it involves the brake pedal). Many drivers also remained uncertain about safe following distances.
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Nationally, the average score slipped from 76.2 percent from 76.6 percent. "When analyzed regionally, the results reveal that drivers in the Northeast may not be as road-rule savvy as their Midwestern counterparts," according to GMAC's press release. "The Northeast had the lowest average test scores (74.9 percent) and had the highest failure rate (25.1 percent). The Midwest region had the highest average test scores (77.5 percent) and the lowest failure rates (11.9 percent)."
Some other notable trends: Older drivers outperformed younger ones and men did better on the test than women but also flunked it at a higher rate. One-in-four drivers admitted that they did "distracting behaviors" such as selecting music on their iPhones, applying make-up or reading, though only 5 percent admitted to text-ing while driving.
The results are similar to GMAC's finding over the past six years that it has conducted the survey. Wade Bontrager, senior vice president of GMAC Insurance, is not sure why there is such a disparity in results but does have some theories. He believes drivers in large, urban areas fare worse than their counterparts in rural areas because they must contend with more distractions and they don't drive as often because they rely more heavily on public transportation. Nevertheless, he doesn't think these factors should be used as an excuse.
"There is knowing the rules of the road, and there is obeying the rules of the road," he says.
2010 GMAC Insurance Driver's Test Results
(Ranked in order of worst drivers by state to best drivers by state)
Scoring is from 1 to 100 on a 20 question test.
1. (WORST) New York - 70.0
2. New Jersey - 70.5
3. Dist. of Columbia - 71.9
4. California - 73.3
5. Rhode Island - 73.8
6. Louisiana - 74.1
7. West Virginia - 74.8
7. Hawaii - 74.8
9. New Hampshire - 74.9
9. Kentucky - 74.9
11. Florida - 75.2
12. Mississippi - 75.6
13. Pennsylvania - 75.8
13. Massachusetts - 75.8
15. North Carolina - 75.9
15. Arkansas - 75.9
17. Texas - 76.0
18. Connecticut - 76.3
19. Illinois - 76.6
20. Georgia - 76.7
21. Alabama - 77.1
22. South Carolina - 77.2
23. New Mexico - 77.3
24. Virginia - 77.5
24. Ohio - 77.5
26. Maine - 77.6
26. Delaware - 77.6
28. Colorado - 77.8
29. Utah- 77.9
30. Vermont - 78.1
30. Nevada - 78.1
32. Maryland - 78.2
33. Tennessee - 78.3
34. Wyoming - 78.4
35. Arizona - 78.5
36. Missouri - 78.8
37. Michigan - 79.0
38. North Dakota - 79.1
39. Oklahoma - 79.3
40. Wisconsin - 79.4
40. Washington - 79.4
42. Alaska - 79.8
43. Montana - 80.0
44. Idaho - 80.1
45. Indiana - 80.4
46. Nebraska - 80.5
47. Iowa - 80.8
48. Minnesota - 81.1
49. South Dakota - 81.2
50. Oregon - 82.1
51. (BEST) Kansas 82.3
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 15)
5-29-2010 @ 10:09AM
Wayne said...
I don't see Michigan on the list. Perhaps it's because they are so bad that they're off the scale.They're known for hogging the left lane, tying up traffic. I used to live in Ohio, and always thought Michigan drivers were terrible, then I moved to Michigan and discovered that indeed they are, especially around the Detroit area.
Altho I must say, that in my opinion, most drivers, especially young women (tailgating) are terrible.
Being a pilot makes me very sensitive to drivers who obviously don't have a clue what they're doing, and do absolutely no forward planning, or thinking ahead.
Reply
5-27-2010 @ 11:26AM
John said...
You seriously think Michigan drivers are worse than Ohio??? I grew up in Michigan and have now lived in Ohio for the past 3 years. Michigan drivers are aggressive but Ohio drivers are awful in comparison! They think if they're going one mile an hour over the ridiculously low speed limit of 65 mph on the interstates that gives them the right to monopolize the fast lane for miles on end while traffic backs up behind them. I often end up passing on the right because some idiot won't move over and get out of the way. Half the drivers in this state have no place to go and all day to get there and it's reflected in their driving habits! That said, you haven't even begun to see bad drivers until you spend some time in Florida, especially in Miami!
5-27-2010 @ 2:44PM
James said...
Im from Illinois and there is NO DOUBT Michigan drivers are the worst. (especially the women) Anybody that has spent any time driving the midwest knows to avoid them at all cost.
5-27-2010 @ 3:39PM
java said...
Absolutely! Michagan drivers are the worst in the country - although I agree Massachusetts is number 2. I have lived in 20 states - including Ohio - never have I seen worse drivers than Michigan. Tailgating is expected as is 20 over the speed limit - crazy drivers! Forget rules of the road - there are none.
5-27-2010 @ 6:33PM
Jalapeno said...
I emailed the Michigan State Police back a couple years ago in reference to the lack of speed enforcement, lack of signal light use during lane change, and general courtesy.
The question was aimed at the troopers.
My response was, in essence, "State Troopers don't have to obey the rules of the road".
5-27-2010 @ 8:34PM
LuvMyLife09 said...
I think bad drivers are everywhere! But I agree with the this list, I have lived in New York, Michigan, Texas, and now Cali... the worst drivers have been in New York, and in Cali especially in LA area. I lived about half my life in Michigan (western and southwest areas, and have been many times in detroit and surrounding areas), and I must say that I think most of the courteous and safer drivers have been in this state. No one is perfect. Now here in Cali, I come across drivers daily cutting you off, then as you are changing lanes, someone is getting into your spot that you haven't completely driven out of, what if you need to go back into your spot, to avoid someone else competing for the spot you are trying to get into. That is crazy driving and there is more....more....more.... By the way Michigan is #37 and this list rated by the worst drivers being on the top and the better drivers being at the bottom. Have a great day! Bye!
5-27-2010 @ 6:01PM
Larry said...
Look closely at # 37 (Michigan)
5-27-2010 @ 6:35PM
Jack said...
The headline reads: "The worst driver's in America." The results of this test prove what? I could give this test to a blind man who might well score 100 percent. Is he a good driver? Why can't we have some relevant statistics, like per capita collisions for instance. It seems to me that a sea of wrecked cars waiting for repair would be a better indicator of a poor driver state, than playing twenty-questions. And why not throw in drunk driving sentences?
I admit it, I missed 4 the first time through. But I got 100 percent the 2nd time. Does this mean I'm a great driver now?
5-27-2010 @ 6:37PM
Kris said...
Michigan is 37 with 79.0.
This test doesn't show whether they drive the way they say they do. Nevada is far worst than this list implys. When most people go the wrong way at traffic circles and refuse to give the right of way when making an illeagle turn to someone who has the light and blaming the person following the rules, well maybe it's not such a good idea to have no last call here. And yes I know my spelling is bad. lol
5-27-2010 @ 8:41PM
Kathy said...
I drive in California, in the San Francisco Bay Area, and there are some real dumb stunts by drivers out here. I understand truck drivers have voted it the worst place to drive, and I'm not surprised. Between small car drivers who cut off people (and big trucks!) and SUV drivers who just own the road, the rest of us have learned to be very good defensive drivers.
I have to say the CA Driver's Test / Booklet I took/read a few years ago is nowhere as clear as it used to be, and that probably adds to the problems with poor drivers. Of course, so does the fact that they come from all over the nation and world, and are given a license here because they have one somewhere else... this doesn't mean they know the rules here of course! I do think most drivers are pretty good, but the wackos are still out - and so are the phone users and texters, although not in the numbers they used to be before it was outlawed. Still, there are some who think they are above the law - and that is the problem with CA drivers.
5-27-2010 @ 8:43PM
william hurley said...
wayne you didn't look hard enough Michigan ranks 37th on the list
5-27-2010 @ 8:48PM
Kathy said...
**** Are You a Smart Driver? -- Take Test and Find Out ****
The link's at the bottom of the article. Good check on how you would do.
5-27-2010 @ 11:13PM
Chris said...
Wayne, Michigan is number 37 on the list. Maybe it isn't that Michigan drivers are bad at driving, maybe its that you are bad at driving because clearly you can't even find something in a list
5-28-2010 @ 4:00AM
Tom said...
Unfortunately I live in Michigan and yes, they are one of the worst, the problemis they all stay and drive in the left lane and they are very selfish and inconsiderate people and will not move to the right even if they are going along much slower than all the traffic, they just don't care about anybody but themselves, I am not a native of this state, and if I could get out of here I would.
5-28-2010 @ 1:26PM
Karl said...
Michigan has some of the worst roads in the country, too. Michigan allows heavier trucks on their roads than in any other state. Between the trucks, the frost heaves and Michigan's use of concrete roadways, the roads always look like the surface of the moon. There is road repair and construction going on constantly in Michigan, it seems.
5-28-2010 @ 11:54AM
Doug said...
Well, turns out Ohio is ranked ahead of Michigan for worst drivers. Go Michigan. Sucks to be you Ohio.
5-29-2010 @ 9:03AM
Jules said...
Michigan is # 37 on the list, for once something we are the worst in the nation on.
5-31-2010 @ 2:04PM
Ben said...
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5-31-2010 @ 2:25PM
stevie2405 said...
Michigan is 15th best. I hope you eye site is better when your behind the wheel of you car.
5-31-2010 @ 2:36PM
PapaCookie said...
Maybe because you read too fast...number 37 on the list so means they aren't the worst.