According to a new survey, Hawaii drivers have the worst driving habits, followed by those in Oregon and New Mexico.
Hawaii is ranked among the worst states for driving behavior. Motorists there rank first for changing lanes or turning without signaling, speeding 20 mph or more over the limit, and running a red light.
The survey of 5,000 drivers (100 in each state), conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Forbes Advisor, found that speeding (less than 10 mph over the speed limit) is America’s worst driving habit, with 39% of Americans with a driver’s license admitting to doing so in the past month.
A further 14% admitted to speeding between 10 and 19 mph in the past month.
Nearly a third (29%) admitted to eating while driving in the past month, the second-worst habit, with speeding up to a yellow light rounding out the top three (22%).
While 94% of respondents considered themselves to be good drivers, 50% feel driving behavior has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic— while only 14% feel it’s gotten better.
Not only were drivers in Hawaii found to be the worst, they also admitted to it. Just 89% of drivers in Hawaii consider themselves to be good drivers, the lowest percentage nationwide.
Drivers in Virginia believe they’re the best drivers, with 99% claiming they’re good drivers. Despite this, according to the analysis, Virginia is the 14th worst state for driving behaviors.
Meanwhile, Tennessee is the best state overall for the best driving behavior, with the best rank for speeding less than 10 mph over the limit and 20 mph or more over the limit.
Ohio ranks as the next best state for driving behavior, followed by Pennsylvania and Florida.
The results also found that men consider themselves to be better drivers than women, with 96% of men feeling this way compared to 94% of women.
According to the survey, texting while driving was revealed as the worst behavior drivers have witnessed others doing, with 40% encountering other drivers texting while driving regularly (several times in the past month).
Younger generations are more likely to text while driving, with 18% of Gen Zers and 22% of millennials admitting to doing so in the past month.
That compares with 11% of Gen Xers, 4% of baby boomers, and 1% of the Silent Generation.
Produced in association with SWNS Research
