Driver Knowledge Test Results - Alberta

 Published in today's newspaper a survey performed by the U of Calgary
for the Alberta Motor Association, found just 11.4 per cent of Alberta
drivers passed a knowledge test modeled on the class 7 learner's
permit exam.

Apparently the sampling was just under 3000 drivers. Of interest to me
was young drivers scored better than older drivers.  Men scored better
than women. Professional drivers and motorcycle drivers were at the
top of the class.

I think the professional driver being near the top is to be expected.
I am considered a professional driver and I am tested once every five
years. I have to pass the written exam, take the eye test and pass a
road test.  I suspect we are just more familiar with the content of
the exams.

Older drivers scoring lower also makes some sense to me. I mean for
most of us old farts it has been a long time since we took the written
exam.  You'd think we would know the rules of the road and be able to
interpret what the road signs mean though.

Men over women.  All I will say about that is I am fine with the women
being on top.  Are we still talking about a drivers test? <g>

Now what does it mean that motorcycle riders scored well on the test.
Is it related to the age category?  Is it that more men than women are
riders?  Or are we the best of the best, as so many in this group
believe?

I don't know what if any conclusions  could be drawn from this
particular exercise.  If I can find a copy of the test and the raw
data, free of editorial spin, I will post it here.

 
I've had a commercial drivers license for roughly 15 years, and I haven't
had to take the tests again yet, except...

<snip>

I think, in most cases, folks start driving cars before taking up a
motorcycle.  In my case it was 25-ish years.

When I got my motorcycle license, I had to take ALL the tests
again...regular driver test, class B test, air brakes, passenger
endorsement, and a couple others that I forget.

The DMV (aka Dickheads) said they didn't know if I needed to take any other
tests, so I had to re-take them all.  This begs the question, if the DMV
doesn't know, who the hell does?  When I asked, the lady just started
drooling.

Anywho, I found that some laws and 'standard' practices had changed in the
preceeding 13-ish years.  Of course, I got those wrong, as well as some of
the wonderfully stupid questions, such as what the fines are for drunk
driving. (doesn't the fact that I refuse to drive drunk, hence that shit
doesn't apply to me, count?)

Having failed the tests miserably, I had to sit out in the parking lot and
cram.  An hour later I passed the tests and got released from California's
answer to the Gulag.

The point is I got a big refresher/update on the rules of the road that most
folks don't get.

This is even more profound for regular drivers, who don't have to take the
test again for several decades.

Another factor is most likely the fact that motorcycle riders have to pay
closer attention to the road in order to survive.

CS

 
You're probably right. In my case I got my bike license first. In fact
I was 19 before I got my first car and 21 before I bothered to get a
car license.  My bike license was worn in just the right way to
obscure the class.  I have no idea how that happend.

I aced the written exam when I got my learners permit and scored a
decent passing mark when I had to take it for my present employer some
40 years later and I am ashamed to say I think I flunked it when I
took it a few years ago.  The driver tester called me into the office
to review several of my answers which led me to think I didn't do so
well.

Back to the best of the best!  I can live with that.

 On 10/5/2010 9:07 PM, CS wrote:


Just another in the long list of reasons I'll stick to driving box
trucks.  Being that air brakes is a restriction and not an endorsement,
I'll continue driving class 5-6 vehicles all day long for nearly the
same money and a lot less hassle.

 

*Ding* with extra carillon.

The other thing that *really* improved my road awareness was getting a
heavy articulated truck licence. In the UK, you're taught that because
you sit so high, your view of the road ahead is superb, and therefore
you're taught to anticipate based on what the fourth, fifth, sixth, even
seventh car ahead is likely to do.


--
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Try Googling before asking a damn silly question.
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com