One in Three New York Drivers Can't Pass

2007_05_driverstest.jpg

A recent survey of drivers by GMAC Insurance revealed that two out of three New York drivers don't know what they're doing, which we're natively inclined to object to and than maybe concede "yeah well, maybe." Two out of three drivers taking the written exam managed to pass, but 36% flunked. New Yorkers were the worst of the bunch in a national survey, but other Northeastern states filled out the top five.

You can take your own version of the test here, but given the size and dangerous nature of motor vehicles, that seems like a shockingly high proportion in a city where pedestrians and motorists mix as a matter of course.

The fact that such a high proportion of NY drivers failed the course proves that:
a) NY drivers hate pedestrians
b) NY drivers are not the best test takers
c) Both of the above
That 1/3 of the test takers couldn't answer the questions linked to above is a little scary, or proves that NY test takers have a grim sense of humor or don't rate pedestrian safety as too high a priority.

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Comments (8) [rss]

"two out don't know where they're doing"

would those two be jen and dave?


and of course if you read this after they make the correction you won't know what the hell is going on , , , which positions you perfectly.

Didn't we have this same story last year? Took it and got a 95. Some of the questions are not relevant to city driving at all, like:

Q: A solid yellow line on your side of the center means:

A: Do not pass.

My reaction: "Huh? Do not pass? Is that like a stop line?" Passing, oh right, I remember that.

Or, an oncoming siren means pull over to the right and stop. Yeah, right, that's what you do on a narrow cross street (or the BQE, for that matter) - pull over and park! That'll help the ambulance get through.

This post is wrong.

The study was for New York State and not New York City. It was conducted on a state by state level. They could have surveyed 100 people in Albany for all we know.

NYC drivers still suck though.

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I don't drive and got 90%!

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There is a big difference if you answer the test honestly, based on how you drive, or based on what you know is the right answer.

In California, everyone tailgates. In the Midwest, its a standing joke that a yellow light means "speed up and try to get through before it changes to red". But I'm sure that most people in these places know the right answer, driving customs have evolved a little differently.

I also agree that driving in a city requires a completely different set of skills from suburban and country driving.

First off, The drivers test administered here is flawed for the most part whether it's upstate or OR not . The test ironically isn't the problem here . It's the drivers who are at fault here, The DMV lay it's role here to by purposely failing some even though they passed . It's a money scam the state has going here . I say that because I was a victim of it when I first took the test . Afterwards the instructor told me it wasn't her fault it's part of a system the DMV has in place . No matter, I took the test again and passed it with a [98] . Back to the issue at hand, It doesn't surprise me that most New Yorkers don't know how to "Drive" . There is a difference between "Driving" & "Hustling" . Driving is operating the vehicle the proper way knowing when to apply reckless driving when necessary . i,e( Ur about to have an accident and you swerve too avoid it, OR You see a potential accident ahead and stop) "Hustling" is the exact opposite of "Driving", You take unnecessary, reckless chances causing potential accidents. The same types of accidents you see everyday on the news . The DMV can reverse this trend by simply revoking the licenses of those found to be reckless !

Also, The Yellow solid lines mean nothing to New York drivers . It's the "Broken Yellow lines" that you can cross !

Anyone remember Taxi? When Rev. Jim was taking his drivers test and Bobby was helping him cheat?

Jim: Hey, Bobby, what does a yellow light mean?
Bobby: Slow down.
Jim: What... does... a... yellow... light... mean...?
Bobby: I said slow down.
Jim: Whhhaaatttt.... doooeeesss... aaaaa... yeeelllooowww... liiiiight... meeeaannn...

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