New York, New Jersey Top List Of Dumbest Driver States

Spend just a few minutes driving on congested New York City streets, and you'll immediately see some of the world's worst driving. GMAC's fifth National Drivers Test reveals just how horrible — along with news drivers nationwide are getting worse.

The study, the fifth annual GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test, found 20.1% of licensed Americans — roughly 41 million drivers — would not pass a 20-question standard DMV written drivers test exam if taken today. And those numbers of knowledge of basic road rules have been decreasing with each year the survey is given, with this year's test scores lower than last year's (76.6 percent vs. 78.1 percent).

State-by-state, Idaho and Wisconsin drivers tied for first in the nation, with an average test score of 80.6%; New York drivers ranked last, with an average score of 70.5%. Figures. Don't think this is an anomaly — it's the second time Idaho ranked first and the second time New York has ranked last in the survey's five-year history.

As you'd also expect from those numbers, the lowest average test scores geographically occurred in the Northeast, while the states in the Midwest held the highest averages.

When comparing genders, men are still more likely to pass the test than women, but the gap is considerably smaller in 2009 (81 percent of males versus 79 percent of females) than in 2008 (87 percent of males versus 80 percent of females).

Want to take the test yourself? Head on over to the website of GMAC Insurance and see how you score. Let us know in the comments below. Let's see if Jalopnik readers can beat Idaho.

Hat tip to Matt Helms!