Survey Reveals States With the Rudest Drivers

FOSTER CITY, California — Idaho drivers are the rudest in the U.S., while those in North Dakota are the nicest, according to a new survey by Insure.com.

To arrive at that conclusion, the insurance advice Web site conducted a survey of 2,000 licensed drivers — half women, half men — representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia. An analysis of the results not only pointed the finger at the areas with the rudest drivers but also revealed which drivers disliked those from other states the most.

"Casting aspersions toward other drivers is a long-standing tradition," said Amy Danise, editorial director for Insure.com. "We wanted to know not only where the rude drivers come from, but also who thinks they're rude."

Following Idaho, according to the survey, the rudest drivers in the country can be found in Washington, D.C., New York, Wyoming, Massachusetts, Delaware, Vermont, New Jersey, Nevada and Utah.

On the other hand, in addition to North Dakota, you meet the nicest drivers in Maine, New Hampshire, Montana, Minnesota, Oregon, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Washington State and North Carolina.

And exactly what driving behavior constitutes rudeness?

Talking on a cell phone while driving aggravated 47 percent of the survey respondents, followed by tailgating (37 percent), failing to signal turns (35 percent), weaving in and out of lanes (28 percent) and speeding (26 percent).

In addition to selecting from a pick-list of 18 annoying behaviors, survey respondents added a few pet peeves of their own. Among them: running red lights and stop signs; preventing other drivers from merging; excessive honking; driving too fast in parking lots; driving with bright headlights on; and the ever-popular making obscene gestures and shouting profanities.

In the end, 50 percent of those surveyed felt that a quarter of other drivers should not even be allowed on the road, and 21 percent feel that way about half of other drivers.

When it comes to what Insure.com calls the "haters," the survey discovered California leads the top five states where drivers dislike those from three or more other states. Apparently those in the Golden State are most resentful of drivers from Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Vermont.

Texas drivers put their state in 2nd place with their dark thoughts about those from California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and South Dakota. And there's a three-way tie for 3rd place among drivers from Georgia (who don't like those from Alabama, Delaware and Florida), Illinois (Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin) and Pennsylvania (Maryland, Nebraska and West Virginia).

"There's also no love lost between North and South Carolina — they point to each other as having the rudest drivers," observed Danise. "But North and South Dakota seem to be getting along. Neither one points to the other as having the rudest drivers."

Not surprising, considering North Dakota's rank at the top of the "nice" list and its neighbor to the south grabbing the 11th-mellowest spot.

Edmunds says: Remain respectful. Rudeness results in road rage.