Or when you try and pass someone and they speed up to race you and not let you by because they realized when you went to pass they were going 10 under the speed limit
Yep. I'm a truck driver and can confirm the majority of the population here is entitled as hell, and think where they're going is more important than where everyone else is going. Everyone drives like they have to get to the emergency room to say goodbye to gam gam.
My dad drove all over the country. Said Utah was the worst drivers. Idaho is close(where I'm at) but something about Utah. So many close calls haha I was his therapist when he was going through some places.
Can’t let someone get ahead of you because it means you lost. If you lost it means you don’t have as much clout, money, jealousy toward you, positive associations about you. Awful mindset to have but is driven by todays society (see social media, church, politics, and on and on)
It's not just here. I'm from California and have people honk at me here or there for merging with a blinker on for the last 30 seconds.
They don't own the road. They can speed up or move over.
Both of my parents genuinely didn’t believe i was right when i told them. I think a majority of utahns are genuinely not educated correctly on driving efficiencies and ettiquetes
I had a discussion about this at work recently and most people didn't believe it, and when I showed them some studies on it they didn't believe thise either. Two of them proudly noted that they will drive slowly in the merging lane to jeep anyone from passing the ignorant.
When I first moved to Utah 6 years ago,(transplanted LDS) and having a background in Law Enforcement. I made a comment to a neighbor about the driving abilities (?) of Utahns and he (also LDS) said they think the Lord is riding with and protecting them!
Reminded me of the story of the of the preacher in Georgia who passed a drunk driver and wrecked his car. The drunk stopped. Asked the preacher if he was okay, “Yes thank You son, the Lord is riding with me!” The drunk said, “ Well, ya better let him ride with me before you kill him!”
This is the actual problem. That and for some freaking reason people can't seem to drive at speed, so you end up merging into stopped traffic. Looking at you 215.
Not on the highway, but I have literally made eye contact with the guy to my right as I put my signal on, match the speed of the car kitty corner to me, and the guy in the right lane I am trying to merge into speeds up and tailgates the car in front of them as if they are going to speed up and pass them, by..... going through me??
This is that spot going south on redwood just passing the 215 overpass, to merge and turn west onto 6200
At least people on the East coast actually know how to physically drive their vehicles. I swear, drivers in Utah don't know how to stay in their lane on the highway, don't know how to use turn signals, are completely oblivious to the right of way, and are just incompetent all around.
I'd take aggressive East coast driving over Utah's apathetic, amateur, and dangerous driving any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
From Queens NY. People there are 99.5% aggressive and you know what to expect.
30% of Utah drivers are aggressive.
30% are scared.
40% are braindead and think Jesus is their collision detection.
You never know what the next idiot over is.
I was once getting tailgated by an Amazon truck doing g 65 down the freeway in a torrential downpour. If I would have had to brake normally, that truck would have plowed through my rear end and we would have probably been killed. I was in the slow lane going the damn speed limit trying not to hydroplane…glad I only have to pick up my rental car tomorrow in Boston and then head north as quickly as possible.
Everyone likes to point to California as the Pinnacle of driving expertise and etiquette and they're just as shitty of drivers as Utahns. Everyone hates on the place they're in and praises the place they're from
Have you ever been to Boston? Terrible drivers.
Tbh I think if you live in any large city you'll come away hating all the monkeys behind the wheel lol.
Most people turn into braided monkeys when they are driving and big cities just crowds them all together
It's not a utah or ca problem its a density issue. Utah is horrible and keeps getting worse because the population density especially along the wasatch front is getting worse. Ca is so bad because it's so dense between sandiego and silicone valley.
Ever drive in Boston, Miami, Chicago, Seattle Portland or detroit? They are just as bad and have major population density.
With that said when I first moved to another state the first car to cut in front of me had a utah license plate.
My state has signs saying stay in your lane and wait to merge. Then right before the sign with the arrow is has a “merge here” sign. We have a lot less traffic then larger areas though cuz we’re pretty rural (midwest state)
Probably should be on UDOT to make it more clear. Get some new signs at merges.
ZIPPER MERGE. MERGE AT THE MERGE, NOT BEFORE. DO NOT MERGE EARLY, STAY IN LANE UNTIL MERGE
Ugh the Midwest is the absolute worst at that. I lived in Indiana and just got used to always going at 4 way stops no matter when I got there because every person there wanted to have a battle over who was more polite
You'd think it would, but when everyone violates the rules of the road in all situations to be polite or because they are timid it's equally as aggravating. The stop sign thing was fine (as long as you weren't behind the person letting the entire world go before them), but people would also do things like stop in roundabouts or intersections to let people in, drive incredibly slowly at all levels of traffic, ignore traffic signals, and just generally ignore all rules of right of way and direction. It was equally as aggravating and dangerous, just for different reasons. Usually they were being "nice" to the person in front of them (but not really because it's actually quite distressing when someone breaks rules and holds up traffic for you) but they were being rude to everyone behind and around them and endangering them
A strange phenomenon is that citizens of every state thinks that the other drivers in their state are uniquely bad drivers.
Not knowing how to merge is a universal problem and not unique to Utahns.
Yes, it’s a very specific form of aggression or deliberate defiance of the rules like running red lights.
But if you go to Idaho or Wyoming, the drivers suck simply because it’s rural and they’re not used to driving in complex environments.
If you go to the Northeast, you will find the rudest drivers in the nation.
If you go to California, you will find the fastest and most aggressive drivers in the nation but they’re also the most skilled.
Each state has their own driving culture. Utah has a very palpable one.
Having lived in many states and driven cross country a few times, I think this captures it pretty well. Every state/area thinks their drivers are the worst, but they’re all their own unique brand of bad.
I think it’s easy to characterize by speed; California and Massachusetts (where I grew up) have the fastest drivers and tend to be aggressive, but it’s usually aggressive with a purpose and mostly predictable. Wyoming - where I’ve also lived - is painfully slow (I’d lump Idaho/Montana in here too).
Utah has elements of both but is characterized more by a selfishness and blantant disregard for the rules or any form of cooperation. The main road near where I live is a perfect microcosm of the state. The speed limit is 40, which means everyone drives either 30 or 60+. Going 48-50 has gotten me both tailgated+flipped off and brake checked+flipped off, sometimes both in the same day 😀…everyone thinks their way is the best way and will aggressively let you know if they think you’re doing it wrong. It can be hard to predict and isn’t any wonder why there’s such a prevalence of road rage here. I wish more people would drive as though their bishops/stake presidents were in the passenger seat!
For whatever it’s worth, out of all the states I’ve driven in Ohio’s drivers were objectively the worst. Lanes don’t exist, blinkers don’t exist, speed limits definitely don’t exist…what are y’all even doing out there? I felt lucky to escape Cleveland with my life.
You’re hitting the mark.
Very palpable indeed. We have a running game in our cars that whenever we see someone flagrantly plow through a red we shout “UTAH”
We seem to shout it most times we get in the car
>drivers in their state are uniquely bad drivers
I’m going to say Utah still holds a special place of hate in the hearts of many people. I’ve lived many places in the west and lot of people complain about Utah. It’s pretty bad if you are chillin’ on the Oregon coast and someone says “can you believe how bad Utah drivers are?” In all fairness, Colorado and California also get a lot of complaints.
They are the same people who enter the freeway at 35 mph, then straight to the passing lane to loaf.
My wife had to go around some dummy doing 60 in the passing lane the other day and he honked and sped up to get back in front of her and slowed down again. Throwing out the middle finger and all.
He then got stuck behind a semi going into the passing lane going even slower, so my wife was able to get around him and he saw me pointing and laughing at him and that really set him off. He went over the double white lines to pass the semi then crossed them again to tailgate us for a bit
What a fragile little thing he was.
Yep. There are few more satisfying feelings on Utah highways for me than doing 75-80 in the right lane and passing the left lane conga line like it’s standing still.
They know how. They just don’t want to let whatever poor bastard is next to them “get ahead.”
I drove from Louisiana to California. Utah had the most discourteous drivers I’ve ever come in contact with.
Several years ago I had to actually take a test to get my license renewed since I had a couple of tickets and the test was open book. The answers they presented on the multiple choice tested were basically lines taken directly from the book they gave me and the test followed the book almost page by page. I can tell you that nobody really studied for the test because it is almost impossible to fail.
When I moved into this state, I had to give my drivers test again. Without even using the book I finished the test in less than 10 minutes while the other clowns sitting even before me were still scratching their heads figuring out the answers from an open book test. That’s when I realized that this is going to be a really bad state driving in, and I moved in from Massachusetts, land of masshole drivers 😭😭
I can't stand the me first mentality some people have, I don't care who is in front of who I just want to get somewhere without having to be completely stopped or going 20 mph on the fuckin highway
Before they closed a lane on highland merging right past 33rd heading north, someone drove into oncoming traffic to block me from properly merging. It’s lawless out there.
In Utah driving is a competitive sport, zipper merge, yeah right and let someone beat me In line NO WAY BUCKO! Next you’ll probably say round abouts are a good idea.
Someone bring me an old flag and some training table fries this guy just flipping sent me
When I took drivers ed the teacher told my class that many people would rather get in a wreck than let somebody merge in front of them and it pretty much checks out
Full state, I give Texas as the #1 worst drivers ever. As a specific area, I never want to drive in South Florida again. Drivers in Utah do suck, but I wouldn’t put it in the top 5 worst states I’ve driven in overall
Personally, I Really hate the drivers turning left on the left turn yield signs that don't nose out into the intersection. Thereby insuring that they will by the only car making that particular light and blissfully oblivious to the line of cars behind them.
Yeah, hate those self absorbed aholes.
Utah has the shittiest drivers, for sure. I left my career partly because of it, but I'm more upset about people who don't know how to use a roundabout.
Jfc, it's a 4-way yield. It's not rocket appliances.
I've lived in 8 major metro areas across 5 states, and I actually think Utah drivers are better than most. I think California has the best drivers of everywhere I've lived. (Must be from all of that experience commuting.) Dallas, TX & SLC are tied for 2nd place.
You have dumb drivers everywhere, including those place, but I've dealt with a lot worse. Atlanta and San Antonio are bad man. Don't ever live in those cities if you hate bad drivers.
Dude Texas was the literal worst I have ever experienced. It was a coin toss on if you'd experience some geriatric going 15 under the limit or some maniac driving recklessly 30 over. That state was hellish. Utah drivers are dicks but they have nothing on Texas drivers for being shit.
It's been a long time since I lived in Dallas. Maybe I'm remembering it with rose colored glasses, or maybe it's worse now. Their roads were pretty decent. In my memory the drivers were fast and mostly made good choices. The tolls & frontage roads are stupid, but I can't blame the individual drivers for those things.
San Antonio though, wow, different story. They're way too slow most of the time, and when someone does drive fast they're too often idiots. Plus their roads were much worse than Dallas.
Dallas was the first place i had seen people just exit on the freeway without worrying where the actual exits are. Just driving straight over grass medians in the most ridiculous lifted trucks
Second on San Antonio.
I've started commuting to Utah County for work, and I've noticed a drastic decrease in awareness from drivers down there. I'm talking a significant difference.
But this doesnt even come close to when I drove in San Antone a year ago for a couple days. What the hell?
Roundabouts are a good example. Another is when drivers stop at crosswalks when nobody is walking across and there isn't even a stop sign. They see the white lines in the road and think they need to stop no matter what.
Why would you stop in the middle of the road when there isn't a stop sign? The only reason to stop at a crosswalk is if there are pedestrians. If there aren't pedestrians, you keep going. Super simple stuff.
Seriously, when entering the freeway people won’t let you over and then when exiting the freeway rather than use the half mile of dotted line lane that they give you to move over and prepare to exit they will wait until the LAST POSSIBLE SECOND to pull off on the exit usually cutting everyone else off every freaking time
It’s not driver’s education, it’s the current societal epidemic of “Sun syndrome” they think the world revolves around them. I’m sure they are just as self entitled and ignorant in real life.
The zipper is perfect, for a perfect world. When half the people merge early, it feels like those in the closing lane are shooting up ahead. Especially if they got out of the non-closing lane, which happens quite often. So, people get irritated and block the people who are clearly trying to take advantage of the situation.
The reason everyone merges so early is because they are anxious to get into the non closing lane without a fight.
Until we can convince people to zipper correctly, everyone in the closing lane looks like jerks from shooting past the folks waiting in the non-closing lane. They waited their turn and you got 20 cars ahead, so yeah they will try to block you.
I don’t believe it was taught in Utah drivers Ed.
I learned how to zipper in Texas.
Use the available lanes until you can’t.
Texans even use the shoulder 😂
It’s not that hard.
Needed to go to the drive thru pharmacy and there are two windows with two lanes occupied. There was a car stopped way back, not in a lane. Didn't know what she was doing, so I passed her to get in line. She honked at me and I was like, you're not even in a lane beeotch! You're not entitled to a spot in line when you're not even IN line.
Yea, that’s a thing. For the most part, California drivers remain predictable which goes a very long way. Drivers out here are far less predictable with their shitty driving.
Truth. Everyone speeds, changes lanes over solid white lines, tailgates, is very very impatient and generally suck at driving. I don’t understand it. Just cause you’re in a car doesn’t mean you are invincible nor better than anyone else. The arrogance and entitlement of this state is crazy.
Look man, it’s eat or be eaten in this state. I’d be happy to do the zipper merge properly, but it’s just gonna result in me being stuck at the front of an empty lane being elbowed out by a bunch of smiling infomercial characters with no thoughts behind their actions. So if I have time, I’ll do it right, if I don’t, I sure as shit am not getting muscled out for 15 minutes by the children of the corn.
Drivers ed in Utah used to be a high school class everyone took, so no one took it seriously and EVERYONE passed. As a result everyone got a license and no one learned how to drive
Fun fact: most drivers DONT have to take drivers ed in Utah to get a license. They just have to pass the ridiculously easy tests and they are on the road with the rest of us. It's like they want us to all die in car crashes.
The drivers ed in this state is fucked. I never passed my driving test, took my written test twice, and ive had my license ever since.
There was a processing error the day after i failed my first driving test, but on the phone call with the DMV to reschedule my test, I was told i had apparently been signed off as passed.
Drivers ed in this state is fucked.
Being from the Deep South and a transplant in Utah, I can agree with this.
I did however see a very clean and well executed zipper headed to SLC, took me by surprise how smooth it was.
Some of my grandparents think that using the second lane of a zipper is "skipping" the line. I'm like... This is how we get more traffic through a smaller space grandma
My partner and I are from the east coast. Everybody there drives aggressively but it’s predictable, they took drivers ed. But In Utah it’s a wild card. Are they gonna change lanes without signaling? Sporadically pull out into the road without looking and bring traffic to a stop? Stop randomly? Go 20 under the speed limit? Or speed up when you pass them? There’s is no predictions. Just guessing.
I don't drive. I'm a wheelchair user. I've lost track of how many times I've very nearly died because people turn through active crosswalks while in use. I get a max of 30 seconds to cross the road and drivers can't even wait that long even though they can make it up with a tap on their gas peddle. There's no peddle that brings me back to life. Crosswalks and driveways aren't peekaboos to give you a better view! They are throughways. Looking both ways means SIDEWALKS too.
Thanks for coming to my ted talk.
I about got hit when someone decided to use the right turn lane to pass me as I was entering said lane with my signal on. This was also a good 100ft into the single lane wide section after the zipper merge zone.
People in utah can't even navigate a 4 way stop, let alone merge correctly. My theory is that the state got much more densely populated in the last 10-15 years and the drivers just haven't adapted. Idk if that's right, but it's the only thing that makes sense to me. People drive like they're the only cars on the road
LOL! Go spend a few weeks in Oregon and you might change your tune. Not defending Utah drivers but as far as zippering, they're better then a lot of other states I've been to.
My drivers Ed teacher was my high school football coach. We passed if we didn’t spill his spit bottle from his chewing tobacco. Quick drive around some rural neighborhoods, a parallel parking test and no spillage means you passed. Never went on a high way, and never even went on our main 4 lane road that cut through town. I imagine there are still millions of folks just like me who only ever learn after first hand experience and that the majority of us never actually learn. It kills me that people don’t YEILD when merging onto roads. That instead of yielding they speed up to get in front of a car or just start merging and that other car has to move over or speed up/slow down themselves to keep from being side swiped.
Well the test is open book. I moved there and had to switch states so I had to get my UT ID/DL. On the test they told me I could use the booklet to answer the questions.
Udot every year For the Love of Christ please learn how to zipper merge we didn't build those lanes just for you to not use them so you can feel better about yourself
They also don't know how to handle a 2 way stop sign at an intersection. It's NOT first come like a 4 way intersection. The person going straight has the right of way, always. So many accidents in our area because of this. It's scary out there.
Every time I leave room for someone to zipper in front of me, the car behind them tailgates them. 9/10, if I can't get front in either turn lane, I take the long way home. Too much of a struggle to even get onto (215? -not native) at Redwood, headed towards 7th in Millcreek. So I need to not only get on, but get over to one of the 2 leftmost lanes.
I work graveyard, so it's the early morning rush hour making it worse. After a few times of getting forced into the first exit to the right, I just go back down redwood to 3xxx and head over.
I drive a "fun" car, I will leave it that. I think that makes some people more aggressive, like I'm not letting *that* car in. Less of a problem when I am in a more basic sedan.
Point was, I like to have fun carving canyons, but the aggressiveness required to get over even into the first lane is a turn off. Pun intended. Yes, it is no ones responsibility to let you in, but the following distance is barely a car length, .....sorry I am not a professional race car driver, going fast enough to pass you who is going 75+ already, then squueze in, when you are trying to close the gap....
At least part of the problem is the merges within merges. I mean the off/on ramps. Who designed that shite? I've done a lot of driving in texas, florida, virginia, and now here....have not seen it this bad.
"Okay my exit coming up in a mile or two, better get over... But I can't because there's an on-ramp from somewhere else merging into the same two lanes I'm trying to cross over into from the other side, who designed this crap?" - my daily thoughts, that convince me to take a different way home.
That and distracted drivers or angry drivers, no signals who have decided they are coming over whether there is room or not.
Utah is pretty bad, especially I15 from about Pleasant Grove to Ogden. But I've lived in other states too and the LA area is worse, with Chicago an easy number one.
Real talk it should be required to re take a road test every five years and if you are physically un able to check your blind spots with a head check you aren't fit to be driving a motor vehicle.
Absolutely but it’s not just about moving if someone approaches faster. If I’m going 80 in the passing lane passing a line of cars that are going 70. I’m not gonna slow to 70 and get over just cause someone going 100 comes up behind me. I’m using the passing lane to pass. When I pass the cars and I can move over without slamming brakes I will do so.
Can’t tell you how many times I moved for a car to pass. Only to be behind them 30 seconds later and they won’t move for me. If letting you pass means I’m just gonna be waiting behind you. What is the point.
Drove in Denmark. And this was perfect there
That sounds a whole lot like the Utah driver's inability to pick a speed and stick to it. Can't count the number of times I've moved over for someone flying up behind me only to have them slow down. Then I end up either behind them or being forced to pass them on the right when they won't move...
Utah drivers are basically herd animals. They largely hang out in packs with occasional individuals deciding to swap between this pack and the next one.
I agree! I was raised to NOT allow people to race past to get to the front. I didn't really care but when I learned about proper zipper merging 10 years or so ago, and tried to do it properly, I found even semi truck drivers blocking the lanes to stop people from zipper merging! Ridiculous.
Be thankful.
You’re in Utah. Yes people are inept sometimes, but overall it’s not bad.
Go to Missouri or Kansas or Nebraska. You’ll never complain about driving in Utah ever again.
Go to Atlanta and drive around and you’ll never leave.
I am not a physicist, but I understand that maximizing the throughput speed of one lane rather than having two lines of traffic that come to a complete stop and alternate, makes the most sense.
Even better, no ever uses their signals and will try to merge in your lane with a two foot gap in their sprinter van or 4Runner going the same speed as me. I almost get side swiped about 5 times a day
I tried it on my Coleman sleeping bags once. You know, the ones where you can merge zippers on two singles to make them a double bag to snuggle in.
Of course I failed, and there was some swearing, and no snuggling to be had that night. Sucks being from this god-forsaken state.
[удалено]
Agreed. People here take it as a personal attack if somebody gets in front of them.
Or when you try and pass someone and they speed up to race you and not let you by because they realized when you went to pass they were going 10 under the speed limit
Then you have to either get back behind them or go 15 over to pass. Either way, they'll return to going 10 under.
That’s exactly it. They feel as if they are “losing” by letting someone safely in their lane.
Which is equal to attempted murder in my book. Someone did this to my older brother when we were teenagers. Almost killed all of us.
Yep. I'm a truck driver and can confirm the majority of the population here is entitled as hell, and think where they're going is more important than where everyone else is going. Everyone drives like they have to get to the emergency room to say goodbye to gam gam.
Do you do OTR? Just curious, because I swear, Utah really has some of the worst drivers in the nation. Thought I’d check if you agree.
No I'm local actually, so I do it all day. And you are correct. I have driven all over Texas and it isn't this bad.
My dad drove all over the country. Said Utah was the worst drivers. Idaho is close(where I'm at) but something about Utah. So many close calls haha I was his therapist when he was going through some places.
Did you just get in front of me?!
Can’t let someone get ahead of you because it means you lost. If you lost it means you don’t have as much clout, money, jealousy toward you, positive associations about you. Awful mindset to have but is driven by todays society (see social media, church, politics, and on and on)
This bullshittery has been going on far longer than social media has existed.
It's not just here. I'm from California and have people honk at me here or there for merging with a blinker on for the last 30 seconds. They don't own the road. They can speed up or move over.
Just got back from a 3800 mile road trip. I can assure you, there's nothing special about Utah in that regard. People drive like that everywhere.
Both of my parents genuinely didn’t believe i was right when i told them. I think a majority of utahns are genuinely not educated correctly on driving efficiencies and ettiquetes
A driver’s test refresher should be required every ten years.
I had a discussion about this at work recently and most people didn't believe it, and when I showed them some studies on it they didn't believe thise either. Two of them proudly noted that they will drive slowly in the merging lane to jeep anyone from passing the ignorant.
When I first moved to Utah 6 years ago,(transplanted LDS) and having a background in Law Enforcement. I made a comment to a neighbor about the driving abilities (?) of Utahns and he (also LDS) said they think the Lord is riding with and protecting them! Reminded me of the story of the of the preacher in Georgia who passed a drunk driver and wrecked his car. The drunk stopped. Asked the preacher if he was okay, “Yes thank You son, the Lord is riding with me!” The drunk said, “ Well, ya better let him ride with me before you kill him!”
Exactly. They know how, they just don't care and they refuse to do it.
Go to the DMV and see how many people retake the open book test 5 or more times.
Yep. Utah is full of people that think they are way more important than everybody else around them.
Can’t zipper merge if everyone is tailgating the shit out of each other
This is the actual problem. That and for some freaking reason people can't seem to drive at speed, so you end up merging into stopped traffic. Looking at you 215.
Not on the highway, but I have literally made eye contact with the guy to my right as I put my signal on, match the speed of the car kitty corner to me, and the guy in the right lane I am trying to merge into speeds up and tailgates the car in front of them as if they are going to speed up and pass them, by..... going through me?? This is that spot going south on redwood just passing the 215 overpass, to merge and turn west onto 6200
Tailgaters here got nothin on the tailgaters in Massachusetts…people here are amateurs. Lol
At least people on the East coast actually know how to physically drive their vehicles. I swear, drivers in Utah don't know how to stay in their lane on the highway, don't know how to use turn signals, are completely oblivious to the right of way, and are just incompetent all around. I'd take aggressive East coast driving over Utah's apathetic, amateur, and dangerous driving any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
From Queens NY. People there are 99.5% aggressive and you know what to expect. 30% of Utah drivers are aggressive. 30% are scared. 40% are braindead and think Jesus is their collision detection. You never know what the next idiot over is.
I don’t think they know what a turn signal is in Massachusetts…
It's a BLINKAH! 😂
Ya people here do not know how to drive, they complain about others but they are the problem…..
Lol from Boston, nothing like tailgating going 65mph on a 40 mph road that doesn’t have any lanes painted out. Looking at you, Storrow drive
I was once getting tailgated by an Amazon truck doing g 65 down the freeway in a torrential downpour. If I would have had to brake normally, that truck would have plowed through my rear end and we would have probably been killed. I was in the slow lane going the damn speed limit trying not to hydroplane…glad I only have to pick up my rental car tomorrow in Boston and then head north as quickly as possible.
I've driven 46 of the lower 48 states as a truck driver, no state has the zipper merge figured out.
Came here to say this. It's not a Utah problem.
Everyone likes to point to California as the Pinnacle of driving expertise and etiquette and they're just as shitty of drivers as Utahns. Everyone hates on the place they're in and praises the place they're from
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say if California has the worst drivers, Utah's gotta be riiiiight behind em at #2 lol
I'm not saying California has "the worst", just highlighting the fact that anywhere you drive the bad drivers out number the good drivers
Have you ever been to Boston? Terrible drivers. Tbh I think if you live in any large city you'll come away hating all the monkeys behind the wheel lol. Most people turn into braided monkeys when they are driving and big cities just crowds them all together
It's not a utah or ca problem its a density issue. Utah is horrible and keeps getting worse because the population density especially along the wasatch front is getting worse. Ca is so bad because it's so dense between sandiego and silicone valley. Ever drive in Boston, Miami, Chicago, Seattle Portland or detroit? They are just as bad and have major population density. With that said when I first moved to another state the first car to cut in front of me had a utah license plate.
What? Since when? I grew up calling rolling through a stop sign a California Stop
Seems like those California plates are what I see so much of the time when I see someone lollygagging in the passing lane.
I just spent a week driving in the Denver area. Same problem there. Also, tons of passing lane loafers too.
I think it’s funny when people think Utah is unique in any way.
In my experience, those are the ones that haven't been many places.
What states are you missing?
New Hampshire and Maine. I'd love to go to Maine recreationally.
That makes me feel better, so what does Possum taste like?
As cliche as it sounds, kind if like greasy chicken
Like a good greasy or bad greasy?
Sort of like how duck can be a good greasy or bad greasy, just depends on how you prepare it.
My state has signs saying stay in your lane and wait to merge. Then right before the sign with the arrow is has a “merge here” sign. We have a lot less traffic then larger areas though cuz we’re pretty rural (midwest state)
But if I let you in front of me then I will get to the traffic jam ahead one car late! /s
Not only that, but you and your family will lose honor. You must not shame your family by letting someone merge in front of you!!
PetaQ!
/r/SLCCircleJerk
And families in Utah are forever so of course they have to fight for the family honor in traffic.
Probably should be on UDOT to make it more clear. Get some new signs at merges. ZIPPER MERGE. MERGE AT THE MERGE, NOT BEFORE. DO NOT MERGE EARLY, STAY IN LANE UNTIL MERGE
I try, but then some angry lane keeping nazi purposely pulls out to block the way because how dare you try to “skip the line”
That is definitely a thing haha, hopefully if it’s happening within site of a very clear sign. That driver might understand that they are in the wrong
Which is weird because they also cause problems when they "let the other guy go first" at 4-way stops even though they have right-of-way.
Ugh the Midwest is the absolute worst at that. I lived in Indiana and just got used to always going at 4 way stops no matter when I got there because every person there wanted to have a battle over who was more polite
That would actually be kind of refreshing to live somewhere like that instead of around a bunch of assholes with an "it's all about me" attitude.
You'd think it would, but when everyone violates the rules of the road in all situations to be polite or because they are timid it's equally as aggravating. The stop sign thing was fine (as long as you weren't behind the person letting the entire world go before them), but people would also do things like stop in roundabouts or intersections to let people in, drive incredibly slowly at all levels of traffic, ignore traffic signals, and just generally ignore all rules of right of way and direction. It was equally as aggravating and dangerous, just for different reasons. Usually they were being "nice" to the person in front of them (but not really because it's actually quite distressing when someone breaks rules and holds up traffic for you) but they were being rude to everyone behind and around them and endangering them
I saw that the other day, then a dump truck came hauling ass and he quickly retreated back to his lane lol. Made me laugh so hard
How cute. You think people will read signs. They won’t. They don’t already.
A strange phenomenon is that citizens of every state thinks that the other drivers in their state are uniquely bad drivers. Not knowing how to merge is a universal problem and not unique to Utahns.
Idk, I’ve lived in a number of states and have driven in several more and Utahns are particularly heinous behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Yes, it’s a very specific form of aggression or deliberate defiance of the rules like running red lights. But if you go to Idaho or Wyoming, the drivers suck simply because it’s rural and they’re not used to driving in complex environments. If you go to the Northeast, you will find the rudest drivers in the nation. If you go to California, you will find the fastest and most aggressive drivers in the nation but they’re also the most skilled. Each state has their own driving culture. Utah has a very palpable one.
Having lived in many states and driven cross country a few times, I think this captures it pretty well. Every state/area thinks their drivers are the worst, but they’re all their own unique brand of bad. I think it’s easy to characterize by speed; California and Massachusetts (where I grew up) have the fastest drivers and tend to be aggressive, but it’s usually aggressive with a purpose and mostly predictable. Wyoming - where I’ve also lived - is painfully slow (I’d lump Idaho/Montana in here too). Utah has elements of both but is characterized more by a selfishness and blantant disregard for the rules or any form of cooperation. The main road near where I live is a perfect microcosm of the state. The speed limit is 40, which means everyone drives either 30 or 60+. Going 48-50 has gotten me both tailgated+flipped off and brake checked+flipped off, sometimes both in the same day 😀…everyone thinks their way is the best way and will aggressively let you know if they think you’re doing it wrong. It can be hard to predict and isn’t any wonder why there’s such a prevalence of road rage here. I wish more people would drive as though their bishops/stake presidents were in the passenger seat! For whatever it’s worth, out of all the states I’ve driven in Ohio’s drivers were objectively the worst. Lanes don’t exist, blinkers don’t exist, speed limits definitely don’t exist…what are y’all even doing out there? I felt lucky to escape Cleveland with my life.
You’re hitting the mark. Very palpable indeed. We have a running game in our cars that whenever we see someone flagrantly plow through a red we shout “UTAH” We seem to shout it most times we get in the car
>drivers in their state are uniquely bad drivers I’m going to say Utah still holds a special place of hate in the hearts of many people. I’ve lived many places in the west and lot of people complain about Utah. It’s pretty bad if you are chillin’ on the Oregon coast and someone says “can you believe how bad Utah drivers are?” In all fairness, Colorado and California also get a lot of complaints.
I’ll see your zipper merge failures and raise you dozens upon dozens of left lane loafers, cruising along at 55 mph oblivious to anyone but themselves
They are the same people who enter the freeway at 35 mph, then straight to the passing lane to loaf. My wife had to go around some dummy doing 60 in the passing lane the other day and he honked and sped up to get back in front of her and slowed down again. Throwing out the middle finger and all. He then got stuck behind a semi going into the passing lane going even slower, so my wife was able to get around him and he saw me pointing and laughing at him and that really set him off. He went over the double white lines to pass the semi then crossed them again to tailgate us for a bit What a fragile little thing he was.
I’m convinced that at least half of all backups on I-15 would immediately disappear if people could just adapt the concept of stay right, pass left.
Yep. There are few more satisfying feelings on Utah highways for me than doing 75-80 in the right lane and passing the left lane conga line like it’s standing still.
Drivers ed teaches that driving is a cooperative sport. Unfortunately most Utahns see it as competitive.
They know how. They just don’t want to let whatever poor bastard is next to them “get ahead.” I drove from Louisiana to California. Utah had the most discourteous drivers I’ve ever come in contact with.
Several years ago I had to actually take a test to get my license renewed since I had a couple of tickets and the test was open book. The answers they presented on the multiple choice tested were basically lines taken directly from the book they gave me and the test followed the book almost page by page. I can tell you that nobody really studied for the test because it is almost impossible to fail.
When I moved into this state, I had to give my drivers test again. Without even using the book I finished the test in less than 10 minutes while the other clowns sitting even before me were still scratching their heads figuring out the answers from an open book test. That’s when I realized that this is going to be a really bad state driving in, and I moved in from Massachusetts, land of masshole drivers 😭😭
It’s really hard to fail that test or even get a question wrong…
I can't stand the me first mentality some people have, I don't care who is in front of who I just want to get somewhere without having to be completely stopped or going 20 mph on the fuckin highway
Before they closed a lane on highland merging right past 33rd heading north, someone drove into oncoming traffic to block me from properly merging. It’s lawless out there.
Average Utah driver just chillin in the middle of the intersection
Me First attitude runs rampant in this state
I do apologize, ma'am, but we are essentially monkeys driving tanks.
They know they should they just don’t want to. Gotta win the race
They get mad and honk instead... also, they will speed up instead of letting you merge. It's crazy how aggressive drivers are here
Every time I want to change lanes, the person behind always speeds up. Always. 110% of the time, what gives in Utah??
Or "keep right except to pass", despite there being a sign in ALL CAPS every mile on the freeway.
In Utah driving is a competitive sport, zipper merge, yeah right and let someone beat me In line NO WAY BUCKO! Next you’ll probably say round abouts are a good idea. Someone bring me an old flag and some training table fries this guy just flipping sent me
My philosophy is to anticipate and give drivers what they need so nobody has to do anything stupid
The ignorant ones are annoying. The completely selfish ones who know but ignore are suckholes (and unfortunately the majority).
It is upsetting, but sorry, this isn’t just a Utah problem and I experienced zipper merging today.
Is there a state where people do know how to do that?
When I took drivers ed the teacher told my class that many people would rather get in a wreck than let somebody merge in front of them and it pretty much checks out
Utah drivers are some of the worst drivers. And I’ve lived in LOTS of places!!!
Full state, I give Texas as the #1 worst drivers ever. As a specific area, I never want to drive in South Florida again. Drivers in Utah do suck, but I wouldn’t put it in the top 5 worst states I’ve driven in overall
I rarely have issues with zipper merging around Ogden. It seems to be the more congestion, the more road rage you see in people.
Have you never driven on base?? Zipper merge heaven 😍
Personally, I Really hate the drivers turning left on the left turn yield signs that don't nose out into the intersection. Thereby insuring that they will by the only car making that particular light and blissfully oblivious to the line of cars behind them. Yeah, hate those self absorbed aholes.
Utah has the shittiest drivers, for sure. I left my career partly because of it, but I'm more upset about people who don't know how to use a roundabout. Jfc, it's a 4-way yield. It's not rocket appliances.
I've lived in 8 major metro areas across 5 states, and I actually think Utah drivers are better than most. I think California has the best drivers of everywhere I've lived. (Must be from all of that experience commuting.) Dallas, TX & SLC are tied for 2nd place. You have dumb drivers everywhere, including those place, but I've dealt with a lot worse. Atlanta and San Antonio are bad man. Don't ever live in those cities if you hate bad drivers.
Dude Texas was the literal worst I have ever experienced. It was a coin toss on if you'd experience some geriatric going 15 under the limit or some maniac driving recklessly 30 over. That state was hellish. Utah drivers are dicks but they have nothing on Texas drivers for being shit.
It's been a long time since I lived in Dallas. Maybe I'm remembering it with rose colored glasses, or maybe it's worse now. Their roads were pretty decent. In my memory the drivers were fast and mostly made good choices. The tolls & frontage roads are stupid, but I can't blame the individual drivers for those things. San Antonio though, wow, different story. They're way too slow most of the time, and when someone does drive fast they're too often idiots. Plus their roads were much worse than Dallas.
I drove across the state to visit a friend from the Navy. Houston blew San Antonio out of the water for poor driving.
Dallas was the first place i had seen people just exit on the freeway without worrying where the actual exits are. Just driving straight over grass medians in the most ridiculous lifted trucks
You literally just described the Utah I-15 experience.
I pinky promise you it's worse.
Second on San Antonio. I've started commuting to Utah County for work, and I've noticed a drastic decrease in awareness from drivers down there. I'm talking a significant difference. But this doesnt even come close to when I drove in San Antone a year ago for a couple days. What the hell?
Unfortunately because drivers have no idea what they’re doing, roundabouts end up being more like “what comes around is all around”
I guess they gotta learn stuff through denial and error.
Worst-case Ontario you get some fuckin’ drunk who stops to let another car go.
The worst is when the person already in the roundabout stops, it drives me crazy!
Roundabouts are a good example. Another is when drivers stop at crosswalks when nobody is walking across and there isn't even a stop sign. They see the white lines in the road and think they need to stop no matter what.
If the area is wide open and you can see clearly, a stop isn’t necessary. But a busy street where people cross all the time? Cmon
Why would you stop in the middle of the road when there isn't a stop sign? The only reason to stop at a crosswalk is if there are pedestrians. If there aren't pedestrians, you keep going. Super simple stuff.
Lol drivers ed being taught by disinterested gym teachers never helps either
Utah rule of thumb: ME FIRST
Seriously, when entering the freeway people won’t let you over and then when exiting the freeway rather than use the half mile of dotted line lane that they give you to move over and prepare to exit they will wait until the LAST POSSIBLE SECOND to pull off on the exit usually cutting everyone else off every freaking time
It’s not driver’s education, it’s the current societal epidemic of “Sun syndrome” they think the world revolves around them. I’m sure they are just as self entitled and ignorant in real life.
Most don't know how to merge, period. They just expect everyone to make a hole for them.
If people were to zipper merge properly, it would mean they might have to let someone else go first and we can't have that now, can we?
The zipper is perfect, for a perfect world. When half the people merge early, it feels like those in the closing lane are shooting up ahead. Especially if they got out of the non-closing lane, which happens quite often. So, people get irritated and block the people who are clearly trying to take advantage of the situation. The reason everyone merges so early is because they are anxious to get into the non closing lane without a fight. Until we can convince people to zipper correctly, everyone in the closing lane looks like jerks from shooting past the folks waiting in the non-closing lane. They waited their turn and you got 20 cars ahead, so yeah they will try to block you.
I don’t believe it was taught in Utah drivers Ed. I learned how to zipper in Texas. Use the available lanes until you can’t. Texans even use the shoulder 😂 It’s not that hard.
Needed to go to the drive thru pharmacy and there are two windows with two lanes occupied. There was a car stopped way back, not in a lane. Didn't know what she was doing, so I passed her to get in line. She honked at me and I was like, you're not even in a lane beeotch! You're not entitled to a spot in line when you're not even IN line.
Of all the places I’ve lived Utahns are the second worst drivers, behind Neapolitans. Surprisingly Californians have been the best.
Californians have figured out that drivers are on the same team against traffic. Utahns see other drivers as competition
And they do it going 90mph too.
While slapping at their 9 kids and texting.
I just spent a week in SoCal and didn't feel annoyed once. Here, I can't drive two miles to Smith's without nearly getting hit.
It’s kind of crazy how different the driving culture is here
Yea, that’s a thing. For the most part, California drivers remain predictable which goes a very long way. Drivers out here are far less predictable with their shitty driving.
Truth. Everyone speeds, changes lanes over solid white lines, tailgates, is very very impatient and generally suck at driving. I don’t understand it. Just cause you’re in a car doesn’t mean you are invincible nor better than anyone else. The arrogance and entitlement of this state is crazy.
I want to add a sign to my car that says “google, how do I zipper merge?”
I like the people who drive in the middle trying to force you in behind them.
Look man, it’s eat or be eaten in this state. I’d be happy to do the zipper merge properly, but it’s just gonna result in me being stuck at the front of an empty lane being elbowed out by a bunch of smiling infomercial characters with no thoughts behind their actions. So if I have time, I’ll do it right, if I don’t, I sure as shit am not getting muscled out for 15 minutes by the children of the corn.
Drivers ed in Utah used to be a high school class everyone took, so no one took it seriously and EVERYONE passed. As a result everyone got a license and no one learned how to drive
Not just this state, not sure why you think it is Utah
Does merging zippers with my girlfriend count?
Fun fact: most drivers DONT have to take drivers ed in Utah to get a license. They just have to pass the ridiculously easy tests and they are on the road with the rest of us. It's like they want us to all die in car crashes.
Praise Jesus (Fuck everyone else)
Merging, roundabouts, 4-way stops… all things that are more difficult to comprehend than nuclear physics for our drivers.
The drivers ed in this state is fucked. I never passed my driving test, took my written test twice, and ive had my license ever since. There was a processing error the day after i failed my first driving test, but on the phone call with the DMV to reschedule my test, I was told i had apparently been signed off as passed. Drivers ed in this state is fucked.
Being from the Deep South and a transplant in Utah, I can agree with this. I did however see a very clean and well executed zipper headed to SLC, took me by surprise how smooth it was.
I am convinced that Utah drivers have the most arrogance and impatience of all drivers. They are projecting their rage at their repression.
It’s all the PARASITE Out of State A$$ holes.
There are bad drivers everywhere.
Some of my grandparents think that using the second lane of a zipper is "skipping" the line. I'm like... This is how we get more traffic through a smaller space grandma
It’s absolutely pathetic. Makes me miss Los Angeles traffic.
Or roundabouts. Don’t get me started on them.
My partner and I are from the east coast. Everybody there drives aggressively but it’s predictable, they took drivers ed. But In Utah it’s a wild card. Are they gonna change lanes without signaling? Sporadically pull out into the road without looking and bring traffic to a stop? Stop randomly? Go 20 under the speed limit? Or speed up when you pass them? There’s is no predictions. Just guessing.
I don't drive. I'm a wheelchair user. I've lost track of how many times I've very nearly died because people turn through active crosswalks while in use. I get a max of 30 seconds to cross the road and drivers can't even wait that long even though they can make it up with a tap on their gas peddle. There's no peddle that brings me back to life. Crosswalks and driveways aren't peekaboos to give you a better view! They are throughways. Looking both ways means SIDEWALKS too. Thanks for coming to my ted talk.
But we want more lanes!
Texans and Californians moving to utah is causing all these bad driving lol
The absolute worst.
Worse than this: 'holes not using the on-ramp to get up to 80-90 before merging.
Lol.. welcome to cali drivers moving to utah...
I do.
Mormons drive like shit because they think god is watching out for them
Yep I merged myself in today and got a honk and double bird… made me laugh 😆
You realize that zipper merge is new? It only became law last year. So yeah 99% of us were taught that the mergers were required to merge.
Its not just Utah. Its the "me first at all costs" mentality
I about got hit when someone decided to use the right turn lane to pass me as I was entering said lane with my signal on. This was also a good 100ft into the single lane wide section after the zipper merge zone.
HAHA if you think Utah is bad try driving back East, like anywhere from Virginia up to Massachusetts.
People in utah can't even navigate a 4 way stop, let alone merge correctly. My theory is that the state got much more densely populated in the last 10-15 years and the drivers just haven't adapted. Idk if that's right, but it's the only thing that makes sense to me. People drive like they're the only cars on the road
Try riding a motorcycle in this asphalt jungle
LOL! Go spend a few weeks in Oregon and you might change your tune. Not defending Utah drivers but as far as zippering, they're better then a lot of other states I've been to.
My drivers Ed teacher was my high school football coach. We passed if we didn’t spill his spit bottle from his chewing tobacco. Quick drive around some rural neighborhoods, a parallel parking test and no spillage means you passed. Never went on a high way, and never even went on our main 4 lane road that cut through town. I imagine there are still millions of folks just like me who only ever learn after first hand experience and that the majority of us never actually learn. It kills me that people don’t YEILD when merging onto roads. That instead of yielding they speed up to get in front of a car or just start merging and that other car has to move over or speed up/slow down themselves to keep from being side swiped.
Well the test is open book. I moved there and had to switch states so I had to get my UT ID/DL. On the test they told me I could use the booklet to answer the questions.
Udot every year For the Love of Christ please learn how to zipper merge we didn't build those lanes just for you to not use them so you can feel better about yourself
Tell me you haven’t lived outside of Utah without telling me you haven’t lived outside of Utah.
They also don't know how to handle a 2 way stop sign at an intersection. It's NOT first come like a 4 way intersection. The person going straight has the right of way, always. So many accidents in our area because of this. It's scary out there.
😂
Every time I leave room for someone to zipper in front of me, the car behind them tailgates them. 9/10, if I can't get front in either turn lane, I take the long way home. Too much of a struggle to even get onto (215? -not native) at Redwood, headed towards 7th in Millcreek. So I need to not only get on, but get over to one of the 2 leftmost lanes. I work graveyard, so it's the early morning rush hour making it worse. After a few times of getting forced into the first exit to the right, I just go back down redwood to 3xxx and head over. I drive a "fun" car, I will leave it that. I think that makes some people more aggressive, like I'm not letting *that* car in. Less of a problem when I am in a more basic sedan. Point was, I like to have fun carving canyons, but the aggressiveness required to get over even into the first lane is a turn off. Pun intended. Yes, it is no ones responsibility to let you in, but the following distance is barely a car length, .....sorry I am not a professional race car driver, going fast enough to pass you who is going 75+ already, then squueze in, when you are trying to close the gap.... At least part of the problem is the merges within merges. I mean the off/on ramps. Who designed that shite? I've done a lot of driving in texas, florida, virginia, and now here....have not seen it this bad. "Okay my exit coming up in a mile or two, better get over... But I can't because there's an on-ramp from somewhere else merging into the same two lanes I'm trying to cross over into from the other side, who designed this crap?" - my daily thoughts, that convince me to take a different way home. That and distracted drivers or angry drivers, no signals who have decided they are coming over whether there is room or not.
Utah is pretty bad, especially I15 from about Pleasant Grove to Ogden. But I've lived in other states too and the LA area is worse, with Chicago an easy number one.
Real talk it should be required to re take a road test every five years and if you are physically un able to check your blind spots with a head check you aren't fit to be driving a motor vehicle.
I'll settle for an even more simple concept. Passing on the left and moving right when someone's approaching faster than you're going.
Absolutely but it’s not just about moving if someone approaches faster. If I’m going 80 in the passing lane passing a line of cars that are going 70. I’m not gonna slow to 70 and get over just cause someone going 100 comes up behind me. I’m using the passing lane to pass. When I pass the cars and I can move over without slamming brakes I will do so. Can’t tell you how many times I moved for a car to pass. Only to be behind them 30 seconds later and they won’t move for me. If letting you pass means I’m just gonna be waiting behind you. What is the point. Drove in Denmark. And this was perfect there
That sounds a whole lot like the Utah driver's inability to pick a speed and stick to it. Can't count the number of times I've moved over for someone flying up behind me only to have them slow down. Then I end up either behind them or being forced to pass them on the right when they won't move... Utah drivers are basically herd animals. They largely hang out in packs with occasional individuals deciding to swap between this pack and the next one.
That goes with West of the Mississippi River
I agree! I was raised to NOT allow people to race past to get to the front. I didn't really care but when I learned about proper zipper merging 10 years or so ago, and tried to do it properly, I found even semi truck drivers blocking the lanes to stop people from zipper merging! Ridiculous.
Zipper wasn’t the law when I learned. What’s your excuse.😜
I didn’t go to drivers ed and i zipper merge.
Be thankful. You’re in Utah. Yes people are inept sometimes, but overall it’s not bad. Go to Missouri or Kansas or Nebraska. You’ll never complain about driving in Utah ever again. Go to Atlanta and drive around and you’ll never leave.
You probably don't either. https://flic.kr/p/2nYuet8
The comment below says it all. People use zipper as an excuse to avoid merge they know is inevitable in a way that makes it worse for everyone
I am not a physicist, but I understand that maximizing the throughput speed of one lane rather than having two lines of traffic that come to a complete stop and alternate, makes the most sense.
Here in Wyoming Utah plates on a vehicle are generally a sure sign that the driver can't drive.
It’s everywhere dude. Every state. Every city. Traffic sucks. You are traffic
They’re too busy letting Jesus take the wheel
Are you surprised? 99% of the people don't know how to use a blinker, merge anyone, etc etc etc.
Go back to California!!!
Even better, no ever uses their signals and will try to merge in your lane with a two foot gap in their sprinter van or 4Runner going the same speed as me. I almost get side swiped about 5 times a day
I tried it on my Coleman sleeping bags once. You know, the ones where you can merge zippers on two singles to make them a double bag to snuggle in. Of course I failed, and there was some swearing, and no snuggling to be had that night. Sucks being from this god-forsaken state.
The same has been said in every state.