Community Corner

Maryland Drivers Ranked Worse Than Virginia and DC

Find out why.

Maryland drivers may be aggressive and impatient. 

But they're not the worst.

That dubious distinction goes to Louisiana, according to a new report released by CarInsuranceComparison.com, an auto insurance website.

The site's rankings are based on statistics pulled from several sources, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Motorists Association, and Mothers Against Drink Driving.

The insurance site looked at vehicle fatalities, drunk driving, tickets and the failure to obey driving laws.

Maryland finished 18th in the worst-drivers rankings, just a bit worse than average. The worst category for Maryland drivers was fatalities, where the state ranked 10th.

Find out what's happening in Rockvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In response to traffic deaths on the state's highways, leaders this year enacted new laws against talking or texting on your cell phone without the use of a hands-free device. These Maryland cell phone driving laws took effect on Oct. 1, so you can be pulled over if a police officer sees you texting or holding your phone and talking while driving. If you are caught, you face fines of between $40 and $500.

Maryland drivers are worse than those in nearby Virginia, which has the 36th-worst drivers overall, and the District of Columbia, which ranked 44th.

Find out what's happening in Rockvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But there were two categories that make up the overall rankings where DC drivers earned dubious distinction. The district ranked fifth in fatalities on the road and was first in failure to obey traffic signals and wear seatbelts.

The full list is available at CarInsuranceComparison.com.

Do you agree or disagree with the ranking of the state's drivers? How about our neighbors?


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