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This State Has the Rudest Drivers in the U.S.

From folks who cut you off to persistent tailgaters, here's where you'll find the rudest drivers.

Everyone's had their less-than-stellar moments behind the wheel, whether you're honking impatiently at someone who hasn't noticed that the light's turned green or gesturing in a decidedly impolite way at a fellow driver. And while you might have your guesses about where in the U.S. you're apt to find a particularly impolite brand of road warrior, a new study reveals that there's one state in particular where you'll find the rudest drivers on the road. Spoiler alert: It's not New York or New Jersey.

A 2020 study from car insurance website Insurify analyzed a database of more than 2.5 million car insurance applications, tabulating disclosures from the applicants regarding failure to yield violations, failure to stop violations, tailgating, passing where prohibited, improper backing, street racing, and hit-and-run accidents. The data scientists measured the number of applicants guilty of at least one of these violations in areas with more than 50,000 residents, and cities with the largest number of drivers with one or more of these infractions were ranked as ruder than those with fewer violators.

The researchers found that, on average, 23.1 of every 1,000 U.S. drivers have been cited for one of these rude behaviors on the road. They also took into account factors like the number of police officers in each location, noting that having more law enforcement officers in a specific city didn't actually increase the per capita number of rude driving infractions.

So, which state had the rudest drivers overall? Well, looking at Insurify's findings by city, it's clear Virginia has the rudest drivers, with nine of the state's cities making the company's 20-city list. But another state wasn't too far behind with four cities in the top 20. Wondering if your area made the list? Read on to discover where you'll find the rudest drivers in the U.S. And for some other states where the sun doesn't seem to shine, check out This Is the Unfriendliest State in the U.S.

20
Dayton, Ohio

social distancing sign in dayton ohio
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Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 40.6

And if you're worried about your safety, This Is the Most Dangerous State in the U.S.

19
Virginia Beach, Virginia

virginia beach virginia
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Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 40.9

18
Manchester, New Hampshire

Manchester is the largest city in the state of New Hampshire and the largest city in northern New England. Manchester is known for its industrial heritage, riverside mills, affordability, and arts & cultural destination.
iStock

Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 43.5

17
Newport News, Virginia

wooden bridge and beach in newport news, virginia
Shutterstock/Sherry V Smith

Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 43.7

16
Richmond, Virginia

Richmond Virgina
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Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 44.8

And if you're looking for a pristine travel destination, you won't find one in The Dirtiest State in the U.S.

15
Athens, Georgia

athens georgia skyline
Shutterstock/Sean Pavone

Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 45.0

14
Jamaica, New York

city street in jamaica queens
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Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 45.1

And if you're looking for a fun destination for your next road trip, steer clear of The Most Boring State in the U.S.

13
Racine, Wisconsin

downtown racine, WI
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Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 45.1

12
Hampton, Virginia

beach in hampton, virginia
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Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 45.5

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11
Idaho Falls, Idaho

snake river at idaho falls
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Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 45.5

10
Ashburn, Virginia

lake in ashburn virginia
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Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 45.7

9
Greeley, Colorado

courthouse in greeley colorado
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Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 45.9

8
Boise, Idaho

boise idaho
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Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 46.3

7
Logan, Utah

aerial view of logan utah
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Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 46.5

6
Woodbridge, Virginia

state park woodbridge virginia
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Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 47.0

5
Roanoke, Virginia

roanoke virginia skyline
Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 48.1

4
Portsmouth, Virginia

porsmouth virginia historic homes
Shutterstock/Paul Brady Photography

Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 50.9

3
Alexandria, Virginia

old town alexandria row of homes, useless facts
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Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 52.8

2
Caldwell, Idaho

public park in caldwell, idaho
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Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 53.8

1
Pocatello, Idaho

street scene in downtown pocatello idaho
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Rude drivers per 1,000 residents: 58.4

And if you're looking for a windfall, This Is the State Where You Can Make the Most Money.

Sarah Crow
Sarah Crow is a senior editor at Eat This, Not That!, where she focuses on celebrity news and health coverage. Read more
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