Idaho is known for two things: potatoes and their rude drivers. That is according to a survey conducted by Insure.com on who America's most hated drivers are.
Also included in the 10 most hated drivers in the country are those plaguing the streets of New York and Washington D.C., which does not come as a surprise since these places are composed largely of overcrowded metropolitan areas that make it too easy for drivers and pedestrians to act rude to one another. Idaho, on the other hand, enjoys a relaxed, easy-going vibe that could very well be the reason it has the most hated drivers, who seem to be "just fine taking their time, driving 5 to 10 miles an hour under the limit."
"Maybe I'm just used to aggressive, overly caffeinated (on Diet Coke) Utah drivers," complains Idahoan driver Matt Stubs, who just moved from Utah. "That's why everyone in Idaho seems to be driving so slowly."
Eric Leins, who hails from Southern California, also points to Idaho's aggressive drivers who have little patience with drivers who are new to the twisting, turning roads of mountainous Idaho. Together, Idaho's snail's pace drivers and speeders are the reason why they are ranked America's worst drivers. However, despite the state's top ranking for the country's rudest drivers, Idaho drivers enjoy one of the lowest insurance premiums among all the states, as per Insure.com's study of car insurance rates in 2014.
The survey, which was conducted in July, asked a total of 2,000 licensed drivers from all 51 states who were asked to vote on which states have America's rudest drivers. The survey shows drivers from Arizona hated Idaho's drivers the most, while neighboring Maryland thought Washington D.C. drivers were the rudest. Drivers from California were the worst haters of drivers in surrounding states, including Nevada, which has the rudest drivers at night, Utah, Texas, Arizona and Oregon. Surprisingly, California was also the No. 1 hater of East Coast drivers in New York and Vermont.
"Casting aspersions toward other drivers is a long-standing tradition," says 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."
East Coast states comprise a majority of the top 10 with Massachusetts, Delaware, Vermont and New Jersey coming in after Washington and New York. Rounding out the top 10 are Wyoming, Nevada and Utah. Common complaints about rude drivers include speeding, tailgating, not signaling when switching lanes, and talking on the phone.
The nicest drivers, on the other hand, are found in North Dakota, Maine and New Hampshire.
