According to a study done by a personal injury law firm Zanes Law, the two states bordering Washington, D.C. – Virginia and Maryland – are the two hardest states in the country to get a driver’s license in!
Why are Virginia and Maryland driver’s licenses considered the hardest to get in the country?
Well, according to the study’s methodology, the study focused on the following metrics:
- New full privilege license minimum age
- New learner license minimum age
- New intermediate-stage license minimum age
- The ratio of licensed drivers in the state compared to the number of registered vehicles in the state (private & commercial)
- Driving population per 1,000 people of driving age
- Driving population that 19 or younger per 1,000 people
- Knowledge test pass score (out of 100)
The study determined that Maryland was the most difficult state to pass the driver’s test in the country. In addition to having one of the hardest theory tests in the nation, requiring a score of 88%, Maryland also requires that you be at least eighteen years old to receive a full privilege license without restrictions or supervision.
“Maryland is known for its dicey weather, traffic congestion, and complex roadways which can make driving more challenging. This can explain why the driver’s test is one of the most difficult, as new drivers must feel confident driving in such conditions and demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the state’s traffic laws,” said a Zanes Law representative.
On the other hand, the study ranked Virginia as the second most difficult state for obtaining a new driver’s license. The tests for obtaining a nice license and even a new permit in Virginia are considered some of the most difficult in the country. The tests are split into two separate sections, each of which has ‘automatic failure’ if you fail to reach a certain score, for the first section you need 100% to pass, and for the second section you need to score at least 80%, otherwise, it is considered an automatic failure.
Which state has better drivers: Virginia and Maryland?
While the study focused on how hard it is to get a license in each of the 50 states in America, the study says nothing about how well people operate their vehicles after they get their license. So now that we know that Virginia and Maryland aren’t just handing out their driver’s licenses to anybody, it still does nothing to settle the eternal D.C. area debate of which state has the worst drivers.
The one thing we do know is that, according to science, D.C. drivers are some of the best in the country.
Where did the District of Columbia rank in the study?
Unfortunately, the study didn’t consider the 51st state, the District of Columbia, so we don’t know where D.C. would rank compared to the other 50 states, let alone Virginia and Maryland. That being said, we’re still confident that D.C. drivers are not the source of traffic around the capital, that blame (in our opinion) is still reserved drivers from both Virginia and Maryland.