SEATTLE, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — If you’ve felt a shift in driver behavior on Pacific Northwest roads, you’re not alone. PEMCO’s poll of Washington and Oregon residents found that rudeness on the road may be more than a feeling; it’s a reality. Nearly three in four drivers (73%) say they have at least occasionally seen increases in traffic violations in the last five years, and of those, nearly half (47%) say they’ve often seen more drivers breaking the rules.
Drivers admitted to a range of behaviors behind the wheel, such as driving slower to “teach someone a lesson” after they’ve tailgated you – 36% of drivers said they do it at least occasionally. Likewise, 35% of drivers admit to speeding up to block another vehicle from passing.
Interestingly, some groups were significantly more likely to fess up to the unfriendly driving behaviors than others. Parents, in particular, were more than twice as likely as drivers without children to say they’ve acted out behind the wheel. For example, 29% of parents say they’ve often driven slower …