A significant number of Hawai'i's drivers should not be on the road, according to a recent online test.

That's because nearly 22 percent of Hawai'i's drivers would not pass the written test required for getting a license if they took the test today, the annual survey indicated.

Nationally, 16.4 percent of those behind the wheel — roughly 33 million Americans — would fail the written test, according to the GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test.

The online test, which polled 5,524 licensed drivers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, comprised 20 questions taken from Department of Motor Vehicles exams.

The survey included questions that were not state-specific, such as those regarding what to do at a flashing yellow traffic signal, how long before a turn to signal, and how to keep from hydroplaning.

GMAC officials yesterday could not be reached for additional information, including how many Hawai'i residents responded.

Hawai'i drivers scored an average of 76.3 percent on the test, compared with the national average of 78.1 percent. That placed Hawai'i 45th among the states. In 2006 and 2007, Hawai'i placed 45th and 23rd, respectively.

A story posted on The Advertiser's Web site yesterday about the test results drew more than a hundred comments.

Readers voiced strong opinions about the failure of Hawai'i drivers to observe stop signs, traffic signals and lane-changing rules.

Others noted that although state drivers may not always follow road rules, they are more friendly than Mainland drivers. Most, however, were not surprised by the survey results, citing many prior run-ins with bad drivers.

Local officials, however, cautioned against taking the results too seriously.

Dennis Kamimura, administrator of the Honolulu Motor Vehicle and Licensing Division, noted that a person's score on a written test may not be indicative of his or her performance on the road.

"It just tests the knowledge of the driver regarding very specific rules," he said. "It's a matter of what you can recall," not how well you drive.

In addition, state officials do not see a strong correlation between knowledge of road rules and the number of traffic accidents that occur.

"Who can say whether people are not knowledgeable about the rules of the road or if they choose consciously to disregard the law?" asked Maj. Frank Fujii of the Honolulu Police Department. Knowledge of road rules is no guarantee against traffic accidents, he said.

Alan Miyamura, chief licensing examiner, echoed this sentiment. He said judgment calls and practical knowledge are far more important than technical knowledge when it comes to smart driving.

"The best ways to prevent accidents are to respect each other and drive courteously," he said. "If those two attitudes are brought on the road, we'll have less accidents and we won't have to worry ourselves with surveys and results."

Statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System show a total of 161 deaths resulting from 144 fatal motor vehicle crashes in Hawai'i in 2006.

For that year, the rate of motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people was 12.5.

That put Hawai'i about midway among the 50 states. Wyoming had the highest rate, at 37.9 vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people; the lowest rate was 6.4 in the District of Columbia.

While the driver's test results may be alarming to some, officials also said there are important distinctions between driving here and on the Mainland.

Kamimura said Hawai'i motorists drive significantly fewer miles than those elsewhere.

While Hawai'i has highways and freeways, Hawai'i drivers tend to have less experience driving on long stretches of road, he said. For that reason, "we may have missed a few questions concerning freeway driving," he said.

Officials with the Honolulu Driver's Licensing Office said they could not immediately identify the questions most frequently missed by people taking the written test.

Chester Clark, who runs A+ Clark's Driving School, said Hawai'i's high population of immigrants may contribute to lower test scores.

"One of the things we find is that people might be failing permit tests because of problems with language," Clark said.

Despite Hawai'i drivers' low scores on the GMAC test, some still feel that the aloha spirit is alive on Hawai'i's roads.

"I feel safe driving in Hawai'i," Clark said. Hawai'i drivers exhibit courtesies rarely seen on the Mainland, he said.

He also said there are many good drivers in Hawai'i. While accidents will inevitably occur, "everybody is trying to do the right thing," he said.