After three years in last place, New York drivers jumped from 50th place to 45th place for having the worst drivers in America. According to the 2011 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test results our residents are extremely likely to be involved in a car accident in New York City and elsewhere throughout our state because many of our drivers lack basic driving knowledge. Do you know the proper steps to take after being involved in an accident?
The recently released test results revealed that 1 in 5 driver on our roadways lack basic driving skills and knowledge needed to pass a written driver’s exam. This is worth repeating, roughly 37 million licensed drivers on our roadways are deemed unfit to be behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. For this reason, many of our local motorists should know the proper actions to take, before contacting an experienced attorney.
Our New York car accident attorneys understand that these inexperienced drivers pose a serious threats on our roadways as they increase the risk of a car accident for all motorists. Motorists need to take a look inward and evaluate their own driving ability in an attempt to keep them, their loved ones and all motorists safe on our busy streets. The assistance of an aggressive attorney can you win the proper compensation if you are victimized by a careless driver.
With these test scores so low, it’s no wonder why the accident rate is so high in the Big Apple.
When do you report an accident in New York? If the property damage from the accident exceeds $1,001 or more for either party, it is required by the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law that all the involved drivers file form MV-104 (Report of Motor Vehicle Accident). You are required to file this form with the DMV within 10 days of the accident. Be sure to do so in a timely manner as the DMV has the right to suspend your driver license if you fail to do so.
If some has been injured or killed in the accident, law requires that you immediately notify the police. All the involved drivers of the accident will then file an accident report with the DMV. Remember that it is a crime to leave the scene of an accident that causes personal injury or death.
After filing an accident report, the accident will appear on the records of all the drivers that were involved. It does not indicate that you were at fault on your driving record. The DMV does not try to determine fault in an accident.
Our state average was a 75.3 percent on this National Test. It is important that our drivers understand what steps to take in the event of an accident. In our state, more than 30 percent of our drivers failed the exam. This means 30 percent of drivers are likely to cause a serious accident on our roadways. We do have a little bit of good news, kind of, as Washington D.C. bumped us from last place with their 71.8 percent state average.
“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.”
Nationwide, the average test score increased from a 76.2 percent in 2010 to a 77.9 percent this year. While it’s encouraging to see the increase in the average, this still means that a large number of drivers on our roadways are unfit to be driving. According to the test results, it was determined that nearly 90 percent of all of the tested drivers were unable to correctly identify the proper action to take when pulling up to a steady yellow light. Even worse, another 25 percent of drivers were unable to identify what a safe following distance was.
The GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test is conducted to remind drivers around the country to improve their credentials before they experience or cause a serious — if not fatal — car accident. The saddest part is that most drivers are completely unaware of their driving ignorance.
If you have been involved in an accident and would like a copy of the police report, you can call or visit the local police agency or precinct. You need to ask the agency if your report is available and inquire about what type of fee is required to obtain a copy.
If the police reports or the motorist reports have already been filed and processed by the DMV, you can jump online and use the Order and Access Accident Reports feature to locate and access PDF copies of the report.
You should take the National Drivers Test and see how you scores stand up in comparison to our state average. Hopefully you test a little better. It is also encouraged that you become more familiar with our state’s road rules and the procedures of our state for the proper action to take if you’re involved in a car accident.
If you or a loved one has been seriously or fatally injured in a New York City car accident, contact personal injury lawyer Nicholas Rose for consultation about your rights. To make a free and confidential appointment call 1-877-313-ROSE (7673).
More Blog Entries:
May Raises Awareness for Motorcycle Accidents in New York and Elsewhere, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, May 23, 2011
New York Car Accidents Place State in Top Ten for Most Costly State, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, May 19, 2011
