The vast majority of Alberta drivers are so unclear on the basic rules of the road that they would fail the learner's licence test, according to a new study.

The University of Calgary survey found just 11.4 per cent of drivers passed a knowledge test modeled on the class 7 learner's permit exam.

Participants were quizzed on everything from merging and right-of-way to the meanings of road signs.

'It's shocking. Obviously, not many drivers in Alberta have an acceptable level of knowledge when it comes to the rules of the road'—Sabreena Anowar, researcher

"It's shocking. Obviously, not many drivers in Alberta have an acceptable level of knowledge when it comes to the rules of the road," said researcher Sabreena Anowar, a graduate student at the Schulich School of Engineering.

The survey, commissioned by the Alberta Motor Association Foundation for Traffic Safety, was given to 2,394 Alberta drivers.

More than 82 per cent of them said they had more than 10 years of driving experience.

"Drivers needed to answer 25 out of 30 questions correctly in order to pass the test, and the average score was 22," said Anowar.

Male drivers scored higher than females and younger people did better than older drivers, she added.

Drivers with motorcycle and professional licenses scored higher than class 5 permit holders, the study revealed.

"It's clear from this research that most Alberta drivers could benefit from a regular review of the rules of the road to refresh their memories and knowledge," said Scott Wilson, a senior policy analyst with the AMA.

"We will use these survey results to encourage a review of current driver education programs and how to make driver testing and licensing more effective."