Nations worst drivers: Utahns

[JonLP24]

Nation’s worst drivers: Utahns
By LEE DAVIDSON | The Salt Lake Tribune connect
First Published Dec 01 2016 07:00AM • Updated 1 hour ago

QuoteWizard looks at 2 million data points on driving nationally and gives Beehive State a bottom rating.

After looking at 2 million data points nationally about such things as car accidents, traffic tickets and drunken driving, a new study reaches a dark conclusion about the Beehive State.

"Utah's drivers are the worst in the nation," says the study by QuoteWizard, a website for comparing auto insurance.

It says Utah is "second [worst] in the rankings for both accidents and speeding, as well as fourth-worst for minor citations."

It adds this sting: "Surprising for a state known for its non-drinking populace, Utah actually made the top 10 for DUIs, coming in at number nine."
http://www.sltrib.com/home/4654990-155/nations-worst-drivers-utahns?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark

[Tobin S.]

1. And get this, the speed limit in that state is 75 mph on the interstate, as it probably should be,

but it just seems to me like 75-80 mph should be fast enough.

[CanSocDem]

2. I hadn't noticed...

...but there may be some valid explanations. First of all, the entire Salt Lake valley is considered one of the most volatile psychic areas of the USA. Brigham Young picked up on this when leading the Mormons west and famously proclaimed "This is the place." SLC rose quickly out of the desert fueled by the psychic power. People who live in these areas do so with abandon and their driving often reflects this.

And the rate of DUI's isn't that surprising when you understand that the lack of a bar in every neighborhood means that the best place to drink away from home is vodka in your car.

Not to mention about 4 times as many soccer moms....


.

[hlthe2b]

3. Colorado #8, which is undoubtedly "fair"

Part of that is due to all the construction zones and stretches of I-25 that are so past due for widening to six lanes from Denver to Fort Collins along the front range and which creates a crazy "desperation" among some aggression-prone drivers. Obviously some is due to the inexperience/ignorance of some with respect to snow/ice driving (and the over-confidence of quite a few big-assed SUV drivers who don't slow down, even on ice)... Obviously the I-70 corridor into the high country is the other problem zone.

But as one who at least 1-2 x weekly has to do that long front range corridor commute, I have had my share of white-knuckle experiences.

[JonLP24]

9. I know that area

I was born in Ft Collins and have family in Loveland.

[Laffy Kat]

11. Ain't that the truth.

I have to get on 287 to go almost anywhere and I swear that highway is a death zone.

[CabalPowered]

4. Living in a neighboring state

I can an attest to to the veracity of this report. Absolutely the worst drivers. We have 80 mph speed limits on our freeways and it's not uncommon to see mini-vans from Utah pushing 95 mph. A danger to themselves and to all those around them.

[DFW]

5. Worse than Boston drivers?

I thought the only people worse than Boston drivers lived in Italy or Cairo (Egypt, not Illinois).

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

6. From my personal experience as an

Over the road semi driver, although I stopped some 10 years ago, I'd say Texas has the absolute worst drivers, especially in and around Houston. #2, to me, would be Las Vegans, followed very closely be Los Angeles drivers. Those opinions are based on my observations of sheer rudeness and mindnumbingly stupid stunts/risks taken by those drivers, routinely.

What I noticed about Utah driver had more to do with the massive congestion around the Salt Lake City area, more than outright bad driving. But, as I say, that was ten year ago, and more. Things change.

[PasadenaTrudy]

7. New Mexicans

are pretty bed too. Hate driving the I25 when I'm there.

[Coventina]

8. Oh man, I go on high alert whenever I see a NM plate.

They do the most unpredictably stupid things I have ever seen.

[lastlib]

10. I would also watch out for cars with Kansas plates....

...that have "JO" on them. These "Mission Hill-billies" are the most self-centered, self-entitled drivers on the road I have ever encountered. Get into one of those cars, and you'll have all the common courtesy sucked right out of your body. Either they don't know what a blinker is, or it's the most serious shortage of blinker-fluid in the nation.

But here's an idea for car manufacturers: Put the blinkers in a cell-phone app, and they'll use 'em religiously. If these people don't have their ears to a cell-phone, they have their eyes on it. Absolutely horrible drivers, addicted to their phones.