I think I have told this story before, but will again... I'm from eastern Washington and have traveled for my job. About 15 years ago, I flew out to Boston to attend a meeting in western Mass.
Arrived at the airport right at 5pm, dark, raining, major road construction (Big Dig). There were limited signs and I just needed to get to I90 West.
I told folks at the meeting the next day that they sure were nice in Boston, lots of folks waving (albeit with one finger up), honking to say hi, etc. I asked directions (love the toll booth guy that told me where to go)... Got on the freeway headed west and was amused at the fast pass lanes on far left. I paid my tolls along the way, but told them at the meeting I just zipped right through, the fast pass lanes were awesome. I asked why doesn't everyone use them?
I confessed later that I really paid my tolls and no one was going to get arrested, no one was shot or killed in my story.
Agree, Seattle traffic can be bad, Baltimore was not bad, Washington DC not bad, Phoenix was bad 35 years ago, got much better with the new freeways but seems to be bad again now.