Unexpected City Named Worst For North Carolina Drivers
The worst city for North Carolina drivers? It’s not Charlotte. Or Raleigh. It’s not even in the Triangle or Triad areas. Stumped? You have every right to be. According to 24/7 Wall Street the worst city for North Carolina drivers is Rocky Mount. I haven’t spent a lot of time in Rocky Mount (in fact I’ve only driven through a handful of times. But to say it’s worse for drivers than Charlotte? Or 1-40 in Raleigh at rush hour? I’m listening, but have a hard time believing this to be true.
But that’s what 24/7 Wall Street is reporting. They created a list of the worst cities for drivers in every US State. They report using “metro area level data from a range of sources” to determine the worst city. A quick look at the statistics does give clarity as to why it wasn’t a major city (full of traffic) representing NC on this list. Because traffic in both Charlotte and Raleigh has to be worse. Instead, they used data on crashes, vehicle thefts, and then the average commute time.
Here was the data as reported by 24/Wall Street for Rocky Mount (one of 15 metro areas in the state analyzed for this study):
- Fatal crash rate in 2021: 23.6 per 100,000 people (14.3 per 100,000 in state)
- Total fatal crashes in 2021: 34 (1,535 in state)
- Vehicle theft rate in 2022: 148 per 100,000 people (220 per 100,000 in state)
- Total vehicle thefts reported in 2022: 213 (23,576 in state)
- Avg. commute time in 2022: 24.7 minutes (25.1 minutes in state)
Rocky Mount is approximately 45 miles east of Raleigh near the intersection of I-95 and Highway 64. So while it may not have a large number of permanent residents many many people are passing through daily. This also probably factors into this ranking. You can read the full study from 24/7 Wall Street here.
Roadside Frustrations: 8 Most Annoying Habits Of Other Drivers
The Lane Hogger
You know the type. They leisurely cruise along in the left lane, seemingly oblivious to the growing line of cars behind them. They show no intention of moving over, despite signs clearly indicating slower traffic should keep right. It’s as if they believe they own that lane and everyone else is just passing through.
The Indecisive Merge Master
You’re approaching a merging lane, diligently signaling your intention to merge, when suddenly you spot them—the driver who can’t seem to commit to either accelerating to merge or slowing down to let you in. They teeter on the edge of indecision, causing a chaotic dance of hesitant maneuvering that disrupts the flow of traffic.
The Tailgater
We’ve all encountered the driver who seemingly has a vendetta against personal space. They ride your bumper with an intensity that could rival a race car driver. Whether they’re running late or simply have a persistent need to assert dominance, their tailgating antics create an anxiety-inducing experience.
The Incessant Honker
Honking is meant to be a communication tool, a gentle reminder to draw attention to potential dangers or to express gratitude. However, a special breed of drivers wield their horns like a weapon of mass annoyance. They honk at the slightest inconvenience, from a fraction-of-a-second delay at a green light to a cautious pedestrian exercising their right of way.
The Distracted Doodler
We’re all aware of the dangers of distracted driving, yet some individuals choose to engage in activities outside the confines of a moving vehicle. From applying makeup and eating full meals to scrolling through social media or engaging in animated conversations, these drivers treat their cars as mobile living rooms. Their lack of focus puts us all at risk, and we can’t help but wonder if they have forgotten that driving requires undivided attention.
The Fast Lane Snail
The left lane, aka the fast lane, is meant for, well, going fast. But there’s always that one driver who decides to take a leisurely Sunday drive right there, blocking everyone else behind them. This forces other drivers to undertake risky maneuvers to overtake them, leading to frustration and potentially dangerous situations.
The Traffic Rule Ignorer
Traffic rules exist for a reason. To maintain order, safety, and efficiency on the roads. However, some drivers seemingly view these rules as mere suggestions. They run red lights, ignore stop signs, and make illegal U-turns with complete disregard for the potential consequences. Their actions create chaos and put everyone around them at risk.
The Turn Signal Skippers
It’s like these drivers believe that turn signals are optional car accessories. They change lanes or make turns without a single blinker in sight, leaving the rest of us to play mind readers and guess their next move.
