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Florida Ranks 37th Nationwide in Driving Skills

GMAC Insurance recently released the results of its National Drivers Test, and the final test scores weren’t too impressive.

One out of every five drivers were unable to meet the basic requirements to get a driver’s license. That means that about 37 million Americans would not pass the written drivers test. These results clearly indicate that the risk of a car accident in Miami or elsewhere in the United States is high.

”The GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test has become the benchmark for America’s driving IQ,” said Scott Eckman, chief marketing officer, GMAC Insurance. ”All Americans need a refresher course when it comes to rules of the road and it begins with education. We’re hoping this year’s GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test results will inspire drivers to arm themselves with the knowledge they need to stay safe.”

Florida ranked 37th out of the 50 states. While we may be relieved our state wasn’t ranked last, 37th isn’t something to brag about. Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys would like to tell you that our state’s average test score was 76.5 percent. We only scored a 0.3 above the national average. It’s no surprise that we see so many fatal accidents on our roadways. It is with adequate driver education that we can attempt to turn around these statistics and scores to help make our roads safer for everyone.

The nation’s average score was 77.9 percent. This is an increase of 1.7 percent from the previous year. Still, these results show that a number of U.S. drivers lack basic driving knowledge and engage in dangerous driving habits. According to the test results, about 85 percent of drivers were unable to identify the correct action to take when approaching a steady yellow light. Another 25 percent were unable to identify what a safe following distance is.

Without knowledge of the basic driving rules and regulations, a number of drivers are at risk of being involved in a serious or fatal accident. GMAC conducts this National Drivers Test to remind all motorists that it is critical to re-up their driving skills and knowledge before they do experience one of these accidents.

Highlights from the GMAC National Drivers Test:

-Men typically test better than women. Men test scores averaged at 80.2, while women averaged a 74.1 percent. One out of every four women tested return a failing score.

-The Northeast region of the country scored the worst with an average of 74.9 percent.

-The Midwest region returned the tops test scores with an average of 77.5 percent.

-Older drivers, ages 60 to 65, submitted the highest test scores of any age group. Their average score was an 80.3 percent.

-One of every three drivers in New York and Washington D.C. failed the test.

-Wyoming returned the lowest percentage of failures.

You are urged to take the National Drivers Test to see where your driving skills stand.

The car accident lawyers at Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC represent victims and their families in Margate, Miami, West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie and Fort Lauderdale. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, call 1-800-561-7777 today for a free consultation to discuss your rights.

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