Lori L. Mavrigian

Managing Editor

Since joining Modern Tire Dealer in 1979, Lori Mavrigian has held several key positions leading to her current title as managing editor. In addition to handling the day-to-day operations of magazine production, Lori writes features, contributes photography and is in charge of several of the magazines departments. She also works with the magazine's National Advisory Council for the exclusive Ludwig Report surveys. She earned a B.A. in Mass Media-Communications from the University of Akron.

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‘What does a yellow light mean?’

By: Lori L. Mavrigian

If you’re like me, it has been many years since you took your written driver’s exam. If you were given a pop quiz on it today, would you pass?

LeaseTrader.com, an online car leasing company (www.LeaseTrader.com), recently gave 500 men and women who had at least five years of driving experience a written driver’s exam. They wanted to see how experienced drivers would fare.  

The 500 men and women answered 10 sample questions found on written driving exams across the country.

They found that those with the most driving experience, more than 20 years, scored nearly 18% lower than younger drivers. Men answered 59% of the questions correctly, while women answered 46%.

LeaseTrader.com found that men had the most difficult time answering a question addressing the procedure for approaching a stopped school bus on the other side of a divided highway. Most men said you should watch for children and be ready to stop. The correct answer, however, is to stop and wait until the vehicle’s flashing red lights are off.

They said that "women had the most difficult time with a question addressing the appropriate speed limit on primary and secondary state and federal highways. While most women said the speed limit is 65 mph, the correct answer is actually 55 mph."

LeaseTrader.com also found that the longer you've been driving, the worse you do on the test.

People who have been driving for more than 20 years scored an average of 46% correct; those with between 10 to 20 years experience scored 58% correct; and between five to 10 years 64%.

Not one person scored every question correct. Even scarier, more than three quarters of the entire exam population answered four or more questions incorrectly – thus receiving a failing grade.

All this brings to mind one of my favorite scenes from the TV show Taxi. Do you remember it? It’s when the crew takes Jim Ignatowski to take his written driver’s exam, and he asks them for help on the question “What does a yellow light mean?” and they answer, “Slow down.” So he does, repeating,“Whaat doess aaa yellowww lighttt meannnnn?”

Funny stuff, but on-road safety is no laughing matter. Maybe the U.S. should look into refresher courses for driving rules.

Related Topics: Lori Mavrigian, driver's exam

comments

1. Alan | June 03, 2011 at 09:22AM
   The yellow light joke reminds of the line in the movie Starman, Jeff Bridges plays an alien. (Starman is driving the car, and speeds across a recently turned red light, causing crashes for the other motorists]
   
   Starman: Okay?
   
   Jenny Hayden: Okay? Are you crazy? You almost got us killed! You said you watched me, you said you knew the rules!
   
   Starman: I do know the rules.
   
   Jenny Hayden: Oh, for your information pal, that was a *yellow* light back there!
   
   Starman: I watched you very carefully. Red light stop, green light go, yellow light go very fast.

2. Tim | July 15, 2011 at 07:49AM
   The reference, in the title, to the scene from Taxi is what got me to read this article. Love that scene! I remember Statman too. What a riot!!