Could you pass your state's written driving test today?

[Bunny]

GMAC insurance conducted a nationwide study of drivers to see how many could pass a 20-question written driving exam. Take the test here:

http://www.nationaldriverstest.com/agency/national-drivers-test/ndt-test.php

<snip>
Nationally, 18.4 percent of the 5,202 survey respondents failed to score the 70 percent needed to pass the exam. That translates to 38 million drivers nationwide who would flunk if they were required to take a written test, the insurer said.

Kansas drivers had the best average score, 82.3 percent. New Yorkers ranked last, at 70 percent.

The Northeast had the lowest average test score (74.9 percent) and the highest failure rate (25.1 percent). The Midwest had the highest average test score (77.5 percent) and the lowest failure rate (11.9 percent).

Men outscored women 78.1 percent to 74.4, and had a lower failure rate, 18.1 percent to 24 percent for females.<snip>


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10153/1062425-454.stm#ixzz0phE7byCF

I missed two, and they were ones that I really should have known. :blush: How did you do?

[hobbit709]

1. I missed two

One I clicked on the wrong answer even though i knew it. The other was ambigious.

[Iggo]

2. .

:P

[Richardo]

3. I missed two - but I'm filing a protest with the commissioner's office

16. Under most conditions what is a safe following distance?
A. 3 seconds <-- "correct" answer
B. 10 seconds
C. 20 seconds <--- my answer

Poorly-worded. If 3 seconds is safe, then 10 and 20 seconds are obviously safe too.

18. When you approach a traffic signal displaying a steady yellow light, you must:
A. Go through the intersection before it turns red
B. Stop if it is safe to do so <--- "correct" answer
C. Be prepared to stop <--- my answer
D. Slow down and proceed with caution

They're wrong wrong wrong. I was always taught that a yellow light meant 'be prepared to stop' or 'proceed with caution'. Red was the only color for 'stop'.

[Bunny]

4. I missed the same two questions!!!

I thought I should have known better - I'm glad someone else got the same answers as me. :hi:

[Richardo]

5. Will you join me in my class-action suit?

:hi: Bunny! :loveya:

[Bunny]

6. Sure thing, babe!

:loveya:

[brendan120678]

7. I got number 18 wrong as well...

And also:

8. You may pass on the right of another vehicle when:
A. When traveling on a multi-lane highway carrying two or more lanes of traffic in the same direction
B. The other vehicle is making or about to make a left turn, when a lane is provided to pass on the right <--- My Answer
C. Both answers are correct <-- "correct" answer

Sorry, but I was taught in Drivers Ed, and I remember even though it was 15 some years ago, that you never pass on the right on the highway unless absolutely necessary.

Edited to add:
From the NYS website:

In general, the law requires that we drive on the right side of the road. When passing is allowed, we usually pass other vehicles on the left. Passing on the right is permitted only in limited circumstances, and should be done only when necessary and safe to do so.

When passing other vehicles or changing lanes to avoid hazards, do so with caution and only when necessary. You must not exceed the speed limit to pass another vehicle.

When passing a motorcycle, remember to give the motorcycle the same full lane width as other vehicles are allowed. Never move into the same lane space as a motorcycle, even if the lane is wide and the motorcyclist is riding to one side.

The law requires you to use directional or hand signals at least 100 feet (30 m) before making a lane change. You may never pass a vehicle which has stopped at a crosswalk to allow a pedestrian to cross.
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/dmanual/chapter06-manual.htm

And here's the law in COnencticut, where I live now:

Sec. 14-233. Passing on right. The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle only when conditions permit such movement in safety and under the following conditions: (1) When the vehicle overtaken is making or has signified the intention to make a left turn; (2) when lines of vehicles traveling in the same direction in adjoining traffic lanes have come to a stop or have reduced their speed; (3) upon a one-way street free from obstructions and of sufficient width for two or more lines of moving vehicles; (4) upon a limited access highway or parkway free from obstructions with three or more lanes provided for traffic in one direction. Such movement shall not be made by driving off the pavement or main-traveled portion of the highway except where lane designations, signs, signals or markings provide for such movement. Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.
http://law.justia.com/connecticut/codes/title14/sec14-233.html

[sarge43]

8. Number 17

Correct answer: Pull over to the right and stop for emergency vehicles w/lights and whistles.

Well, what if you can't pull over -- no verge or dangerous one. Two lane road, cars parked along street. Badly worded, Should be "When safe or when possible, pull over ....."

Agree on 16 and 18.

[Patiod]

11. Also missed those two

"Be prepared to stop" is clearly correct!

[Dr Morbius]

12. I missed two as well.

I thought one should activate one's turn signal 50 feet before the intersection; it's 100 feet. And I missed number 18 as well; I see a solid yellow light at an intersection, I perform answers C and D; I slow down, prepare to stop, and proceed with caution. I've never heard before that a solid yellow light means stop. I wonder from which state they pulled this question!

[One_Life_To_Give]

13. Guess I was taught different

Cause I was taught to Stop if safe to do so on a yellow.

In practice if I don't then it's tough to avoid actually being over/on the stop line at some speed the instant the light does turn red.

[Richardo]

14. In what state?

I've had to take driving tests in California, Colorado and Texas and they all say 'prepare to stop' and/or 'slow and proceed with caution'

Maybe your state is the one they took that question from. :shrug:

[One_Life_To_Give]

15. Originally licenced in Connecticut

Can't remember now if this came up on my CDL exam as well.

[petronius]

17. In California, 'stop if it is safe' is the best answer to 18 - the problem with the question

is the word "must", because it's not really a ticketable offense.

Our vehicle code only states that a yellow means the red is about to appear, but the driver's handbook states "Solid Yellow– A yellow signal light means “CAUTION.” The red signal is about to appear. When you see the yellow light, stop if you can do so safely. If you can not stop safely, cross the intersection cautiously."

[Richardo]

18. Hm - I swear when I took the test in covered wagon days (1974) it said 'be prepared to stop'

In any event, there's that wording problem again (with the test I mean). "Must" renders it a wrong answer, IMO.

[Dr Morbius]

36. Please don't misunderstand me. I too stop on yellow lights,

but only when that yellow light was recently green and is about to turn red. The question was about a "solid yellow light", not the changing lights at an intersection.

[Gormy Cuss]

21. Same "errors" for me.

Although with q. 16 I knew what they were getting at but thought 5 seconds was the correct minimum "distance."

Stopping at a yellow light? Uh no, unless you have reason to believe it'll turn red before you can clear the intersection.

[pokerfan]

24. I thought yellow meant "floor it"

and get through the intersection before it turns red. :)

[Kat45]

27. That's how we do it in Mass.

:D

[pokerfan]

28. Reverend Jim's driving test

One of the best moments in Taxi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvn-tBeLpCk

[Kat45]

25. I also missed those questions & had same thinking as you on them.

Of course, I missed several more questions too. :shrug:

[Duer 157099]

33. Since when is distance measured in time?

Especially when no speed is given?

[Richardo]

34. Since Han Solo made the Kessel run in under 6 parsecs.

Oh wait, that's time measured as distance. :)

[CBR]

9. Missed 3 -- 85%. nt

[tXr]

10. 100%!

[petronius]

16. 20/20 - although I was a bit unsure on the sign shape question, since I

pay more attention to the color...

[pokerfan]

26. 90%

I missed #8 and #18.

[old mark]

19. I missed 5 - but I'm old. I better drive faster before I get too old to drive at all......nt

[Xithras]

20. Perfect score...but only because I just had traffic school last month.

Damned speeding tickets :dunce:

[Zavulon]

22. Missed 18.

That's #18, not 18/20 ;)

Seriously, it's a problem is 70% is considered passing. Anything more than three missed questions should be a failing grade, and some of those questions are so obvious that they alone should constitute failure if missed.

Seriously, take a look at the first question. If you miss that one, I don't care if your score is 95% - you fucking fail.

[petronius]

30. I had that same thought while taking it. Some of those questions,

if a person misses them their common sense is so defective they should never be allowed out of the house...

[Kat45]

23. I got 60%--which is probably good for a Massachusetts driver.

:rofl:

[meegbear]

35. I got a 65%, so now I feel SAFE!!

[Richard Steele]

29. I passed this state's written test with a 95% a year ago.

I swear, it was EXACTLY the same test I took in PA
decades ago when I got my first license, pictograms and all.

Thank G*D for backwater red-state beaurocracies, eh?

[Blue-Jay]

31. If you fail that test - 65% or less - you need to stop driving.

Seriously, get the fuck off our roads.

[quakerboy]

32. 20/20

Though I recall some of those being slightly different in my state. For instance, I'm pretty sure the book lists safe following distance as either 5 or 6 seconds.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

37. yes. n/t