New Yorkers rate as worst drivers
05-24-2007 | 01:49 PM
#1
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New Yorkers rate as worst drivers
http://www.cnn.com/2007/AUTOS/05/24/...vey/index.html
For most of us living in the northeast, the article's author should be knighted 
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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- One out of six drivers on the road today would not pass a written driver's license test if they were given one today, according to a national survey conducted by GMAC Insurance.
The survey asked questions from actual state Department of Motor Vehicle tests. Questions covered both traffic laws and safe driving habits.
The average score nationwide was 77.1 (out of 100). Respondents from New York state had the lowest average score, answering just 71 percent of the questions correctly. New Yorkers also had the highest failure rate, with 36 percent failing to earn what would be considered a passing score on the test.
What we want: Mileage, power and size!
Idaho had the highest average score, at 87.1.
At least 100 people from each state and Washington D.C. were asked 20 questions taken from actual DMV tests. The questions and answers were applicable to all states.
In general, residents in eastern states fared worst and residents of western states did best.
The bottom five ranked states, from worst to best, were New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The top five states, ranked from best to worst, were Idaho, Alaska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Kansas.
Questions included such things as "A traffic light with a flashing red signal means?" and "If, while driving, a tire suddenly blows out, you should..."
The survey asked questions from actual state Department of Motor Vehicle tests. Questions covered both traffic laws and safe driving habits.
The average score nationwide was 77.1 (out of 100). Respondents from New York state had the lowest average score, answering just 71 percent of the questions correctly. New Yorkers also had the highest failure rate, with 36 percent failing to earn what would be considered a passing score on the test.
What we want: Mileage, power and size!
Idaho had the highest average score, at 87.1.
At least 100 people from each state and Washington D.C. were asked 20 questions taken from actual DMV tests. The questions and answers were applicable to all states.
In general, residents in eastern states fared worst and residents of western states did best.
The bottom five ranked states, from worst to best, were New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The top five states, ranked from best to worst, were Idaho, Alaska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Kansas.
Questions included such things as "A traffic light with a flashing red signal means?" and "If, while driving, a tire suddenly blows out, you should..."
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05-25-2007 | 06:10 PM
#8
Tristate ViP Crew
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From: North Jersey
Originally Posted by phile
NYorkers are just fixated with 45mph...they'll do it in Manhattan where the speed limit is 25, and they'll do on the Jersey Turnpike, in the left lane, where the speed limit is 65.
05-25-2007 | 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by phile
NYorkers are just fixated with 45mph...they'll do it in Manhattan where the speed limit is 25, and they'll do on the Jersey Turnpike, in the left lane, where the speed limit is 65.
As we drive down to Florida and back to NJ once or twice a year, I have lost count of how many times the left lane of I95 through the Carolinas slows up considerably due to a NY driver in the left lane pacing the car/truck/semi in the right lane @ 55mph (70mph zone). (I cannot imagine how NY drivers would fare on German autobahns....where they would probably get impaled by an Audi doing 125mph.)
05-25-2007 | 10:10 PM
#10
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Originally Posted by phile
NYorkers are just fixated with 45mph...they'll do it in Manhattan where the speed limit is 25, and they'll do on the Jersey Turnpike, in the left lane, where the speed limit is 65.
05-25-2007 | 11:46 PM
#11
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From: Brooklyn, NY
Originally Posted by F23A4
+2 As we drive down to Florida and back to NJ once or twice a year, I have lost count of how many times the left lane of I95 through the Carolinas slows up considerably due to a NY driver in the left lane pacing the car/truck/semi in the right lane @ 55mph (70mph zone). (I cannot imagine how NY drivers would fare on German autobahns....where they would probably get impaled by an Audi doing 125mph.)
As we drive down to Florida and back to NJ once or twice a year, I have lost count of how many times the left lane of I95 through the Carolinas slows up considerably due to a NY driver in the left lane pacing the car/truck/semi in the right lane @ 55mph (70mph zone). (I cannot imagine how NY drivers would fare on German autobahns....where they would probably get impaled by an Audi doing 125mph.)As for the autobahn, I've driven on several in Germany and this New Yorker can definitely hang with the fast crowd.
05-26-2007 | 06:39 AM
#12
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...not stereotyping all NY drivers, just most that travel on NJ highways.
Originally Posted by dampfnudel
Don't stereotype all New York drivers. If they added a third lane or even better kept trucks separate, it would help a lot. Some drivers (mostly older) have a fear of trucks so they feel when they're pacing a truck that the truck driver sees them and there's no/little possibility that the truck will cut them off/slam into them. In other words, they turn their fear into protection. Those same drivers would probably drive 20mph faster in the left lane if those trucks were not there or at the very least stay in the right lane because they wouldn't have to "wait" behind those slow trucks.
But I do agree with the need for a 3rd lane there.That said, see Phile's post above (re: slow in the left lane of NJ highways) 'cause this gets my goat (not to mention Phile and Platano's as well) the most. (Particularly as major NJ highways have 3-4 lanes.) I swear, there are times I wish I could somehow take some air off of their rear spoiler (a la NASCAR) just to move them out of the left lane.
05-26-2007 | 11:33 AM
#13
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From: Manhattan, NYC
I am pretty sure that NY has some of the easiest requirements for getting a drivers license. I know it has changed, but all it took to get my jr license was a 5 hr course that took 2 hours, I took my test 25 days after I turned 16. That is not ok for everyone...
05-26-2007 | 12:02 PM
#14
i'm pretty surprised that Florida was not in the top 5 for the worst drivers. i can't stand driving here. at least in ny & nj- everyone drives the same way so you expect it.
05-26-2007 | 01:17 PM
#15
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From: Western New York
Originally Posted by F23A4
http://www.cnn.com/2007/AUTOS/05/24/...vey/index.html
For most of us living in the northeast, the article's author should be knighted .
For most of us living in the northeast, the article's author should be knighted
.What are you braggin' about there slappy? NJ is second worst, it's not like you're at the top of the list lookin' down
05-26-2007 | 03:27 PM
#17
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From: Brooklyn, NY
Originally Posted by Chief F1 Fan
What are you braggin' about there slappy? NJ is second worst, it's not like you're at the top of the list lookin' down
If you removed all of the NY & NJ license plates, someone from Idaho or Wisconsin wouldn't be able to tell the difference bet. a NY and NJ driver based on their driving skills (or lack of them). I see plenty of bad drivers with NJ plates which based on this study makes sense.
Of course some things like our congested/poorly-designed highways conspire against us from driving better so it's not totally our fault.
05-26-2007 | 06:48 PM
#18
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Originally Posted by Chief F1 Fan
What are you braggin' about there slappy? NJ is second worst, it's not like you're at the top of the list lookin' down
Originally Posted by F23A4
If it is any consolation, many NJ drivers are transplanted New Yorkers (especially post 9/11).
05-26-2007 | 10:50 PM
#19
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From: brooklyn, NY
u kno what it is about some or most ny drivers, its most of the nyc drivers r the ones that makes the whole nyers look bad. when i drive out the city, i have no problem w/ other drivers. but once i get near the city, then its like mokees running around. ppl dont kno how to use signals and ppl amke 1 lane into 3 lanes. well i do understand that they can squeeze through but there is a reason y they left it a single lane. i really think pplmost ppl here get their lic of the vending machines. they have no respect, but i dont balme some off them maybe their just got sick and tired of these other really bad drivers but we need to really to drive w/ respect.
05-27-2007 | 01:22 PM
#20
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From: Cedar Rapids, IA
Originally Posted by LUTHOR-CL
u kno what it is about some or most ny drivers, its most of the nyc drivers r the ones that makes the whole nyers look bad. when i drive out the city, i have no problem w/ other drivers. but once i get near the city, then its like mokees running around. ppl dont kno how to use signals and ppl amke 1 lane into 3 lanes. well i do understand that they can squeeze through but there is a reason y they left it a single lane. i really think pplmost ppl here get their lic of the vending machines. they have no respect, but i dont balme some off them maybe their just got sick and tired of these other really bad drivers but we need to really to drive w/ respect.
05-27-2007 | 02:02 PM
#21
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Originally Posted by hornedfrog2000
You should spell out words so people can understand you.
LUTHOR-CL probably has a "crackberry" addiction and is posting using a phone (thus driving us to distraction in the process) rather than a computer.
At least, I hope that's the explanation.
Oh, and I'm pleasantly surprised that California didn't rate in the top 10 of worst (or least knowledgeable) drivers!
Last edited by Will Y.; 05-27-2007 at 02:05 PM.
05-27-2007 | 04:59 PM
#22
Originally Posted by SG81
Shockedactually i thought Florida might beat them out due to all the old drivers
....everyone can pass the test but NO ONE actually obeys the laws they just know em so they can pass.....but well florida.....miami to be exact is listed as the most streeful place to drive.....or maybe one of the most.....everyone drives like assholes and tend to eat shit while driving.....
05-27-2007 | 06:24 PM
#23
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From: San Diego, Ca
Originally Posted by Will Y.
Oh, and I'm pleasantly surprised that California didn't rate in the top 10 of worst (or least knowledgeable) drivers!
05-27-2007 | 10:13 PM
#24
Oh Hullow
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Freehold, NJ
everybody thinks their state has the worst drivers... but in reality there are shitty drivers in every part of the country it doesnt matter what state your in... its the individual that is an awful driver, its not their environment that makes them bad drivers lol...cuz you see people there are women in every state of the USA so shitty driving wont be confined to just one area....
(im only joking of course about the last sentence) i know if i didnt add this someone would call me ignorant haha.
(im only joking of course about the last sentence) i know if i didnt add this someone would call me ignorant haha.
05-28-2007 | 06:24 AM
#25
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From: Western New York
I'd like to know why automatically, everyone presumes a bad random test score equates into being shitty drivers. Granted, not knowing what a "flashing red light" means can be problematic, but, it doesn't mean the guy/girl can't physically operate a car well.
05-28-2007 | 05:31 PM
#27
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Originally Posted by Chief F1 Fan
I'd like to know why automatically, everyone presumes a bad random test score equates into being shitty drivers. Granted, not knowing what a "flashing red light" means can be problematic, but, it doesn't mean the guy/girl can't physically operate a car well.
That is a fair assertion.
I will just state that (IMHO) this test score is one heck of a coincidence with my observation as to how the operator of NY plated cars seem to fare in my numerous travels to Florida as well as local driving in NJ. (It also coincides with 'driving slow in the left lane' as my BIGGEST pet peeve on the road...something seemingly common with NY and as of late Vermont drivers.)
Ironically, a similar sentiment was intermingled in a previous thread.
Just for the record, NJ drivers HAVE become worse.
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