The States with the Worst Drivers. Ever!
We hope you don't get offended if you live here but it's the honest truth.
Traveling is supposed to be an adventure filled with glorious and wonderful memories we will hopefully never forget. As travel writers, we strive to share positive insights to help you enjoy your trip even more.
Unfortunately, there are those times when things beyond our control can ruin those precious moments and make us wonder why in the hell we took a road trip in the first place.
Like when you happen to discover the worst drivers in America.
Because most of our travel is based in the United States and Canada, while driving our truck, we get to see a lot of great things — especially when we take the roads less traveled. It’s one of the perks of what we do.
But sometimes we’re forced to take highways and interstates, and it has become a sort of hellish nightmare in certain places.
We’ve stared in the face of death numerous times in our vehicle and had to clean the shit out of our seats and shorts, which isn’t pleasant at all. Some interstates even bring us such horrible flashbacks and anxiety that we’ve become day drinkers. 😜
So today I want to share the top three states we believe to be the worst, just in case you’re planning a future trip. This way, you can be fully prepared with a well-stocked first aid kit, adult diapers, proper insurance, and a bottle of rum to calm your nerves when it all goes wrong.
Additionally, I’m sorry if you live in one of these places. I don’t mean to offend you and your people, but seriously, learn to drive better.
#3. California
Despite the crazy prices, questionable politics, and a growing homeless population, we absolutely love California and the incredible experiences it has provided.
San Diego is my happy place, and there are so many fantastic National Parks, beaches, and smaller towns to explore that will make you smile. Southern California is vastly different from Northern California, making for a very memorable drive.
Speaking of…
For the most part, there aren’t as many horrible drivers in CA as in the other states listed— it’s just the sheer amount of ’em on the roads at any given time.
There’s no planning around traffic because you never know when those thousands upon thousands of cars will be on the road. They keep you guessing and anticipating so you’ll be forced into some purgatory to atone for your sins!
I recommend carrying plenty of water and a couple of milk jugs to pee in just in case you find yourself crawling the asphalt hell of Interstate 5.
#2. Texas
Something about pickup trucks, guns, and “everything’s bigger in Texas” creates an attitude that makes Texans feel untouchable.
If you get anywhere near the metro areas of Dallas, Austin, Houston, or San Antonio, you’ll discover the true American Spirit formed by raging testosterone and relentless aggressiveness.
And now that the liberals from California and New York are making a mass exodus from their land to this big state due to better tax and housing rates, I’d expect a rise in seething anger and road rage. Be ready for a gun fight.
When we go through Texas, we do everything possible to avoid the I-35 corridor, especially near Dallas and Austin, because of the insane traffic and the constantly changing, confusing highways. Even with Google Maps or GPS, it will lead you to a gauntlet of suffering.
However, I will say Texas has some fantastic places to visit, and if you can deal with those drivers, it is worth boot scootin’ around the state.
#1. Florida
Buckle up and tighten your seatbelt for this one because no place makes us as fearful as the “Sunshine State!” 😱
Florida has a lot to offer on a road trip — including beautiful beaches, outstanding resorts, tons of entertainment and amusement parks, and, in certain cities like Miami or Orlando, an exciting nightlife. The state also provides you with the rudest and most dangerous drivers in the entire country.
Fifteen years ago, we drove I-95 south on our way to a cruise, and on this six-lane highway to hell, our lives flashed before our eyes. A vehicle in the far-right lane struck another car, causing a chain reaction of destruction. We met a white pickup truck spinning out and heading on at 70 mph.
We were badly shaken and our rental car* was totaled. Thankfully, our injuries, while painful, weren’t severe enough that we couldn’t continue our trip.
The worst part, if that wasn’t already enough, was the people slowly driving by after our wreck, giving us the finger and telling us to get the fuck out of the road! Then, after the firefighters arrived, they asked me if I could help push that crumpled heap of metal out of the road while my flesh still burned from the activated airbags.
SERIOUSLY? WTF???
After that life-changing encounter, I proudly wore a t-shirt a friend from Florida made for me, which said,
If the humidity in Florida doesn’t kill you, the drivers will. ☠️
Sadly, nothing has changed since then.
We’re now back in the “Sunshine State” after another cruise and it’s appalling how many crazy assholes and raging lunatics are behind the wheel of a 4,000+ pound missile screaming down the highway at 80 mph or more, while drafting the asses of other 4,000+ pound missiles like dysfunctional NASCAR driver rejects.
You don’t have to stand hours in line at a Disney ride to feel the thrill of a lifetime. Just drive down any major street for five minutes, and you, too, can see your life pass before your eyes. 👀
What’s even more messed up is that Floridians proudly admit to this. Crazy.
*Note: Florida is a no-fault state, so we highly recommend getting extra insurance. We didn’t usually do this for rental cars before, but on the day of our wreck, we did, and we were so glad we did.
Not-So-Honorable Mention
There’s one last place I have to call out and warn people about, but it’s not the entire state, so it doesn’t make the list. If it did, I’d rank it #2!
U.S. 95 is a deadly stretch of highway that runs north and south in the southwestern part of Nevada. It’s a two-lane road in the middle of the desert that requires nerves of steel. Or a case of insanity.
We stopped in the town of Hawthorne to visit the Hawthorne Ordinance Museum, which is absolutely incredible. As I left to continue our journey, two of the older military veterans there warned me to be very careful driving south on this nightmare of a road.
I thought they were screwing with me, but they weren’t.
For the next 90 minutes, as we made our way to Tonopah, it was a white knuckle and butthole puckering experience as we battled high winds, blowing dust, and drivers with a death wish.
It was like a childhood game of chicken, where drivers on both sides of the road would risk everything to pass long lines of semi-trucks and other vehicles, with very little time or space to avoid oncoming traffic.
This tempting of God’s judgment and grace was too much for this old-school Catholic trouble-maker because doing so meant getting more than whacked by a ruler — it meant the possibility of meeting Jesus in a tuna can.
No thanks, bro!
Just remember to go slow.
Part of the joy of traveling is being able to experience your adventures at a slower pace. You miss so much when it’s pedal to the metal. The idea is to arrive at your destination safely, so please slow down.
And to all those daily drivers frantically racing to get to a job they hate or a family commitment they loathe, why not kick back and listen to some Jimmy Buffett instead? It’s not worth killing yourself or others in the process.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading!