Eastern U.S. vs Western U.S. drivers...??

Seattle Lion wrote:
I'm a native New Yorker (Greenwich Village) and have been driving there for many years. I moved to the Seattle area about 7 years ago. Things I have discovered:

As a New Yorker:
The worst drivers I have encountered are from New Jersey followed closely by Florida.

New Yorkers are aggressive, but when they start a move, they finish it. The key to NY driving is to understand that as long as you are predictable, things will be fine. In a place as crowded as Manhattan, courtesy is often absent. I regret that.

Here in the west, people are much nicer to one another. I like that. However, Washington drivers rarely remember that their cars have directional signals and are likely to turn suddenly without warning. Pedestrians just *know* that cars will stop if they walk into traffic. Try that in NY...can you spell roadkill? Here in WA, the left lane is for slow drivers. Trucks clog the center lane on freeways.

Another dangerous area is Chicago. Drivers there just don't seem to understand there are others on the road.

Just my opinion, don't get too upset. Remember, I was born and raised in NYC.

The 'Florida" drivers that you see are actually former NY (or NJ, MA, CT, east PA, take your pick) who are retired and now live in Florida.

I agree about Left Coast Pedestrians walking out into the street. Here in the midwest they would be run over and then cited for not crossing at a corner and with a "walk" light. Kind of like standing on a railroad track and complaining when getting hit by a train, duh!

I have driven in almost every state in everything from a semi with "oversize" loads to a motorcycle. There are good and bad drivers everywhere, it's just that the proportions are different. I have been on Cape Cod with a 65' long piece of equipment on a trailer negotiating narrow town roads and found courteous and understanding drivers. I have also been in rural areas and been cut off or turned in front of. BTW, the common (and courteous) practice of pulling into the breakdown or crossover lane before turning seen in Texas and the south would get you a ticket here, unjustified IMO.

It does seem that the more densely populated the area the more "every man for himself" or "it's all about me" becomes the rule. To make matters worst they take that conduct with them where ever they go. My late brother lived in Florida all of his adult life and could tell where a driver was from with uncanny accuracy. Fly by you at 85-90mph = NY or NJ, 80-85mph = CT or MA. Drive for miles in the left lane passing another vehicle that has their CC set .5 mph slower = anywhere in the midwest.