Bonners Ferry Local Guide including all of Boundary County Idaho

Ahead of the rest behind the wheel

Tuesday, May 29, 2007; CDAP

Think Idaho drivers are bad? Then maybe you have never driven anyplace else. The 2007 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test lists Idaho as the No. 1 state with most knowledgeable drivers. No doubt, we have our share of bad drivers, but the national exam shows that we're the most knowledgeable bunch of vehicle operators in America. The Northwest was the most knowledgeable region, with Idaho No. 1, Alaska No. 2, Washington No. 6 and Oregon No. 9. Montana ranked eighth. Idaho set the standard with Alaska by posting average scores more than 81 percent. Alas, not all the news is cheery. Results from the test show that one in six drivers -- 36 million -- would not pass their written DMV exam if taken today. And no, they're not all in California. California ranked a respectable 22nd. The five cellar dwellers are Rhode Island, Massachusetts, District of Columbia, New Jersey and New York. Some of the more interesting tidbits: Older drivers tended to score better than younger ones. Drivers 35 and older were most likely to pass. More than half the respondents don't know how many feet to signal before making a turn. Almost half the drivers are unaware that the diamond-shaped sign is a warning sign. If you'd like to take the test, go to: http://www.gmacinsurance.com/SafeDriving/ Sure, GMAC is interested in marketing its products to you, but it's easy to steer clear of that if you wish. The test isn't a bad way to remind yourself of some important driving information. While the test results are interesting and give us yet another reason to cheer this great state, we'd like to see some tangible benefits. There's no better way for insurance companies to reward Idahoans than by lowering insurance rates in the coming year. - Full Story