September 3, 2023
I came out of Filibertos in my Flex early this morning with two orders of huevos rancheros and realized too late, I technically could not make a left turn onto Cave Creek Road. There was a cement median which meant I had to turn right and go down a half block and make a U-Turn. Or, I could go the wrong way for about 50 yards and slip across where the median ends and save two minutes.
I made it fine, but noticed in the rearview a guy in a Lexus coming up behind me to give me what for. So, I did what any male driver would do and sped up to deny him the privilege. We were both going about 60 in a 45 when I had enough and pulled into the slow lane to let him go by. As he shot by, he laid on the horn. Man, that pissed me off. In that moment I wanted to ram him. I wanted to follow him home and beat him senseless. If I had a rifle in the car I would have shot out his tires.
Welcome to Arizona, the worst state in the nation for confrontational drivers. A new study just published by Forbes Advisor and conducted by OnePoll compared data among 10,000 licensed drivers older than 18 and compared the data across all 50 states. They included categories on being forced off the road, blocked from changing lanes, cut off on purpose, yelled at, insulted or threatened. If I was fifteen minutes younger I would have qualified in every single category. Apparently, I am not alone.
According to the report, 81% of drivers in Arizona have been yelled at, insulted, cursed at or threatened by another driver. 31.5% of Arizona drivers reported that another driver exited their vehicle to yell or fight them. We're not perfect. We came in second (22%) for the percentage of drivers who've been forced off the road. And Arizona and Oklahoma tied for having the third highest percentage (70.5%) of drivers who have been tailgated. Maybe, next year?
"I'm an awful driver. I'm not going to lie about it. I'm not a good driver. I tried for a long time to pretend that I was. There's a lot of road rage and a lot of times it's directed at something I've done on the road"
—Kristen Bell (no relation)
I live in that other state you mentioned, and let me tell you, you Arizona folks have some tough competition. Just the other day I was driving down a two-lane highway, I flip on my turn signal to make a left-hand turn to the farmer's market, and this truck that's been tailgating me for several miles starts to pass me. I'm turning LEFT. They're passing LEFT. How's that going to work? Luckily they changed their mind and swerved back over. I guess they didn't feel like colliding with anyone. Nuts.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet that they DO (feel like it .. ). Where are you? Dallas?
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