We've all heard it. Those who drive slower than us are idiots. Those who drive faster than us are MANIACS. Those of us who feel this way are (naturally) the best and only best drivers on the road. Insert clever witticism here.
But it also seems that driving habits vary depending on where one lives. Anyone who has ever traveled via a road trip or lived in more than one state in their lives might be able to attest to this. Massachusetts is notorious for aggressive drivers who tend to make the road their own personal terrain, honking excessively or riding your ass if you don't drive at the same pace as them. Florida has its fair share of elderly people driving on the highway that could cause an accident due to their lack of driving speed. Chicago, Illinois has many drivers who have (or nearly have) caused hit and run accidents from nearly hitting pedestrians just so they can make it through a red light. And then we have Washington, the state of 'constipated' drivers as my mother likes to call them. I thought she was crazy when she came up with this descriptive term, but upon further observation, she's right. It takes them all day to turn when there's clearly no one approaching from more than half a mile away and they tend to leave alot of space between themselves and the car in front of them.
It made me wonder if driving habits are a reflection of the overall personality of the people in any given region. Perhaps people are so laidback in Washington that it carries over into their driving. Chicago is a very friendly albeit fast-paced city, so of course it would make sense that people are always in a rush to get somewhere.
Of course, I realize this is a very broad generalization...but it has to make you wonder.
But it also seems that driving habits vary depending on where one lives. Anyone who has ever traveled via a road trip or lived in more than one state in their lives might be able to attest to this. Massachusetts is notorious for aggressive drivers who tend to make the road their own personal terrain, honking excessively or riding your ass if you don't drive at the same pace as them. Florida has its fair share of elderly people driving on the highway that could cause an accident due to their lack of driving speed. Chicago, Illinois has many drivers who have (or nearly have) caused hit and run accidents from nearly hitting pedestrians just so they can make it through a red light. And then we have Washington, the state of 'constipated' drivers as my mother likes to call them. I thought she was crazy when she came up with this descriptive term, but upon further observation, she's right. It takes them all day to turn when there's clearly no one approaching from more than half a mile away and they tend to leave alot of space between themselves and the car in front of them.
It made me wonder if driving habits are a reflection of the overall personality of the people in any given region. Perhaps people are so laidback in Washington that it carries over into their driving. Chicago is a very friendly albeit fast-paced city, so of course it would make sense that people are always in a rush to get somewhere.
Of course, I realize this is a very broad generalization...but it has to make you wonder.
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