According to latest GMAC report, which measures knowledge of driving rules, Washington, D.C. drivers ranked last in the nation. Maryland drivers weren’t too far behind, ranking 49th in the nation, while Virginia ranked in the middle of the pack at 25th. The 2011 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test results revealed that 1 in 5 drivers on the road today cannot meet the requirements to get a driver’s license. Questions from the test include: under most conditions, what is a safe following distance?; and a solid yellow line on your side of the center line means…? (Answers: 3 seconds; and Do not pass) Unfortunately, 34 percent of drivers in Washington, D.C. failed the test.

District of Columbia drivers did just as poorly in a survey last year by Allstate that measured the likelihood of being in a collision. For the second straight year, District motorists were most likely to have an accident among those in the nation’s 193 largest cities.

Washington Post columnist, Robert McCartney, suggests that the District’s wealth and influence, and above all else our self-importance is the blame for the worst drivers in the nation.

The report suggests that “[w]ithout critical driving comprehension, many drivers run the risk of increased accidents or near accidents, where they often come to the realization of their lack of knowledge on the rules of the road.” Brush up on your knowledge of the rules and we challenge you to take the test to see how you score.