Survey: MN, ND drivers among the least rude

It’s true we can’t merge, but, unsurprisingly, Minnesota drivers are pretty darned nice, a new survey says.

Insure.com surveyed 2,000 drivers to determine what state owns the rudest drivers. It’s not us, by a long shot. Minnesota finished 47th in the survey, although it indicated that the drivers who hate Minnesota drivers most, are drivers from Wisconsin.

Wisconsin drivers, finishing 45th, are hated most by those from Illinois.

See the pattern? Then explain why North Dakota drivers, the least rude in the nation, are hated most by those from Michigan. South Dakotans (#41) are hated most by drivers from Texas.

What state has the rudest drivers? Idaho.

The roadways of Idaho present a dichotomy of drivers: Those who are moving so slowly that they’re judged to be rude, and the aggressive drivers who speed around them and flip them off. Together, with their opposite yet equally vexing styles of driving, they push Idaho to the top of the rankings.

Remember Matt Stubbs, formerly of Utah? He recently moved to Idaho and was amazed by the number of drivers holding up everyone behind them, moving at turtle-like speed, reminiscent of an old-fashioned Sunday drive.

“Maybe I’m just used to the aggressive, overly-caffeinated (on Diet Coke) Utah drivers. That’s why everyone in Idaho seems to be driving so slowly,” he says.

Stubbs observes that Idahoans feel “just fine taking their time, driving 5 to 10 miles an hour under the limit.”
This creates additional tension when fast drivers are added to the mix. Idaho resident Eric Leins, a Southern California native, points to the state’s mountainous, rural areas as a source of driver conflict. Those familiar with certain roads may not be very patient with drivers new to the twisting, turning roadways.

“If you’ve driven that hundreds of times, you know [the road] and pick up your speed,” he says. “So those driving them for the first time may have the experienced drivers honking their horns and flipping them the bird,” he says.

Despite its No. 1 ranking for rude driving, Idaho car insurance premiums are among the lowest in the nation, according to Insure.com’s 2014 study of insurance rates.