Keep on your toes during this driving season

Just because the big Memorial Day holiday is over, don't think the Nebraska State Patrol is taking the summer off.

In fact, troopers will be somewhere, every day through Sept. 1, conducting at least one traffic safety enforcement operation somewhere in the state.

And they aren't keeping it a secret. You can log on to the Nebraska State Patrol Web site at www.nsp.state.ne.us, click on the "100 Days of Summer" link and find a monthly calendar listing the type of special enforcement planned and location for each day.

"It is our goal to reduce the number of fatal crashes on Nebraska roads," said Field Services Maj. Russ Stanczyk. "By publicizing our special enforcement efforts, we are asking motorists to partner with us in reducing crash-causing behaviors. It is our hope fewer crashes will result in fewer fatalities."

Judging by an insurance company survey, the State Patrol's effort should be successful, if knowledge of the rules of the road is any indicator.

Nebraska drivers rank third in the nation in the National Drivers Test released last week by GMAC Insurance.

The survey, which polled 5,524 licensed Americans from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, is designed to gauge driver knowledge by administering 20 actual questions taken from state Department of Motor Vehicle exams.

Nebraska drivers had an average score of 83.4 for third place, up from 11th last year.

But Cornhusker motorists shouldn't be too smug; neighbor Kansas ranked No. 1, Wyoming No. 2, South Dakota tied with Alaska for No. 6 and Iowa tied with Washington for No. 9.

Nor should we stop worrying about other drivers. Overall, 16.4 percent of drivers -- about 33 million licensed Americans, would not pass a written test exam if taken today. And, respondents continued to have difficulty on questions about yellow lights and safe following distances. Eighty-four percent could not identify the correct action to take when approaching a steady yellow traffic light, and 73 percent could not properly identify a typical safe following distance from the car in front of them.

And, while the older the driver, the higher the test score -- drivers 35-plus years old were most likely to pass -- women were more likely to fail the test than men (20 percent vs. 13 percent).

The company offers a Web site -- www.gmacinsurance.com -- where you can play a quirky driving game, take the written test itself, compare your score to the national average and challenge friends to top your score.

However you do it, it's a good idea to keep your driving skills and knowledge up to date -- and not just when it's time to renew your license or deal with a traffic ticket.