WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., June 2 (UPI) -- Nearly one-in-five U.S. drivers -- 37 million -- cannot meet the basic requirements to get a driver's license, a GMAC drivers survey indicates.
"The GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test has become the benchmark for America's driving IQ," Scott Eckman, chief marketing officer of GMAC Insurance, says in a statement. "All drivers need a refresher course when it comes to rules of the road and it begins with education."
The average score of all drivers increased from 76.2 percent in 2010 to 77.9 percent in 2011 but results suggest many drivers lack basic driving knowledge, Eckman says.
Kansas had the top average score, 82.9 percent, while Washington was the worst with 71.8 percent.
For example, 85 percent couldn't identify the correct action to take when approaching a steady yellow traffic light and only 25 percent knew safe following distances.
Readers can take the test and view the full results at www.gmacinsurance.com, Eckman says.
When it comes to driver knowledge, men did better than women. Twenty-seven percent of women failed the test compared to 13.6 percent of men.
No margin of error or further survey details were provided.
The seventh annual survey polled 5,130 licensed drivers ages 16-65 from 50 states and the District of Columbia. The survey administered 20 questions taken from state Department of Motor Vehicles exams.
