Have A !*@$# Trip, Utah

It may have been in times past that we had a pretty chill attitude here in Utah, and that the rest of the country may have considered us to be a pretty mellow state. Anyone who has that outlook about the Beehive State will likely have it obliterated after traveling the highway here in Utah.

Forbes has released their 2024 rankings of states with the “Most Confrontational Drivers” and guess who was near the top of the list. Yer livin' in it! According to Forbes, Utah is the third highest state with confrontational drivers, behind only California (understandable) and Missouri (Cardinals frustrations?).

There are several factors that contribute to confrontational driving. Stress, road rage, impatience, and even external influences such as heavy traffic or personal frustrations can push a driver to act aggressively. However, these actions often stem from a lack of emotional control, where minor inconveniences or perceived slights become magnified.

Forbes used nine metrics to determine their rankings. Utah was on top in four of those metrics. Utah led the way in the number of drivers who report another driver cut them off (49.5%); drivers reporting another driver has tried to block their vehicle from merging or changing lanes (42.5%); drivers who report another driver honking at them in frustration (61.5%); and drivers who have been on the receiving end of rude or offensive gestures.

Side question, with our propensity to honk at another driver, does that also qualify us for being the horniest state in the country? I digress.

Confrontational drivers, often referred to as aggressive drivers, pose a significant threat on the roads. And it seems like we are not lacking for such drivers here in Utah.

Their behavior ranges from verbal aggression, such as shouting and using offensive gestures, to reckless driving, like tailgating, speeding, or deliberately cutting off other vehicles. This type of conduct can escalate into dangerous situations, leading to accidents or, in extreme cases, physical altercations.

In Utah, laws exist to penalize confrontational drivers through fines, points on their licenses, or even jail time. But if these Forbes numbers are correct, it doesn't seem to be helping at this point.

Reporting these drivers to local authorities with detailed information, like the license plate number and location, can help law enforcement address the problem.

So what our we to do? Defensive driving techniques—such as staying calm, keeping a safe distance, and not making eye contact—can help diffuse a potentially volatile situation. If a driver becomes too aggressive, it’s safer to pull over or let them pass rather than trying to compete or retaliate. Or we can stay off the roads.

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If you're curios, Fobes listed Hawaii as the state with the least confrontational drivers. South Dakota was the second least confrontational. I guess you'll need to head to those two states for driving paradise.