A long-running regional rivalry gained new life this week as a statewide survey revealed that many New Jersey motorists believe New York drivers are the worst on the road. The findings come from the latest Rutgers-Eagleton poll, which examined how Garden State residents perceive the driving habits of motorists from neighboring states. According to the results, a significant share of New Jersey drivers remain convinced that the behavior of their counterparts across the Hudson River poses the greatest challenge on local highways.
The poll shows that 33 percent of New Jersey respondents identified New York drivers as the worst, reinforcing a sentiment that has been part of interstate banter for decades. Despite the lighthearted nature of the rivalry, the responses reflect frustrations commonly voiced by commuters who share some of the nation’s busiest roadways with drivers from surrounding states. However, the results also reveal that New Jerseyans are not exempt from criticism.
In a striking acknowledgment of their own driving habits, 22 percent of respondents pointed to New Jersey motorists as the worst on the road. The mix of pride and self-critique is familiar to longtime residents, who often joke about the state’s reputation while also defending it against outside criticism. Jessica Roman, director of data management and analysis at the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling, noted that the blend of rivalry and self-awareness mirrors what many people in the state already understand about its culture.
Roman said that while the self-deprecating responses are characteristic of New Jersey residents, the results also highlight a practical reality: New Yorkers, Pennsylvanians, and New Jerseyans regularly share the same congested travel routes. With heavy traffic flowing through major corridors such as the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and bridges linking the region, the mix of different driving behaviors is noticeable to commuters. Roman added that the ranking reflects who New Jerseyans most often encounter on their daily trips.
The poll also reveals broader regional dissatisfaction with other drivers. Fourteen percent of those surveyed identified Pennsylvania drivers as the worst, reflecting long-standing frustration with motorists entering New Jersey from the west. Florida drivers earned 10 percent of the criticism, likely influenced by the state’s large seasonal population of New Jersey retirees who may experience differences in driving styles firsthand. Drivers from Massachusetts, California, and Connecticut were also mentioned, though in smaller numbers.
The survey included responses from 795 New Jersey voters and was conducted in October using both text-based outreach and live interviewer calls. The findings offer a snapshot of commuter sentiment at a time when traffic volume, road conditions, and infrastructure concerns remain top-of-mind for many residents.
While the results may fuel familiar interstate teasing, they also underscore the challenges of navigating one of the most densely traveled regions in the country. Whether motivated by genuine frustration or playful rivalry, New Jersey’s perceptions of its neighbors continue to shape how drivers view the daily experience of sharing the road.
