20%

A little more than 20 percent of the nation’s drivers would flunk a drivers test but drivers in the Midwest are among the most knowledgeable, according to a recent survey. The 2009 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test found that 20.1 percent of licensed Americans – or roughly 41 million – would not pass a written drivers exam. The most knowledgeable drivers are in Idaho, Wisconsin, Montana and Kansas, while the least knowledgeable are in New York, New Jersey, Hawaii and California. Overall, findings indicate the number of drivers with knowledge of basic road rules is decreasing, with this year’s test scores lower than last year’s (76.6 percent vs. 78.1 percent). Idaho and Wisconsin drivers tied for first, with an average score of 80.6 percent; New York drivers ranked last, averaging 70.5 percent. The states in the Midwest held the highest averages overall.