Arizona Ranked #1 for Worst Drivers in the Nation?

It's great to be recognized as number one, even in a competition you didn't know you were in. But when I read the results of a new survey from Forbes ranking Arizona at the top of the stack for Worst Drivers in the nation last year, I thought - this has got to be a mistake.

I'll admit, in the last few years, I've seen a significant change in the way folks drive in Arizona. From tailgating to getting cut off in traffic to painfully slow drivers in the fast lane, I find myself muttering a few choice words nearly every time I hit the road.

READ: Shocking! Does Arizona Really Have the Rudest Drivers in the US?

Ranking Arizona's Bad Drivers

If you've been frustrated and annoyed by the drivers in our state, you’re not alone. A recent Forbes study ranked Arizona as one of the states with the worst drivers in the nation. Last year Arizona came in at number one. Where are we this year?

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Forbes listed some other embarrassing driving statistics for Arizona:

• 8.5% of drivers report that another driver exited their vehicle to yell or fight with them.
• 5.5% of drivers said they experience road rage from drivers on the road.

Ranking Arizona's Biggest Cities for Bad Drivers

Forbes analyzed some of Arizona's major cities and their driving habits. Here’s we rated:

1. Tucson ranked fourth for having some of the worst drivers.
2. Phoenix isn't far behind, securing the eighth spot.
3. Mesa also made the list, landing at number 23.

The Metrics: How Arizona was Ranked for Worst Drivers

Forbes looked at these statistics for ranking states with bad drivers:

1. The number of fatal car crashes per 100,000 residents.
2. Fatal crashes involving a drunk driver with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher per 100,000 residents.
3. Fatal crashes involving a distracted driver per 100,000 residents.
4. Fatal crashes involving speeding per 100,000 residents.
5. Overall fatality rate, the total number of people killed in fatal crashes per 100,000 residents.

READ: Top 5 Drivers AZ's Hate to Share the Road With

Whether it’s aggressive tailgating on the highways or distracted driving in city traffic, our state has a lot of room for improvement.

But there is good news: Arizona doesn't win the prize as the state with the worst drivers this year. While we landed at the embarrassing number one last year, other states have taken the top dishonor this year, and Arizona fell to number 14.

Here are the top 10 states that made Forbes' Worst Driver list this year:

1. California
2. Missouri
3. Utah
4. Oklahoma
5. Colorado
6. Mississippi
7. Indiana
8. Virginia
9. New York
10. Maryland

Maybe Arizona Doesn't Have the WORST Drivers in the Nation

I'm not sure if Forbes' results mean Arizona is getting better on the roads or if the other states are just doing worse. Either way, we'll take it.

READ: If You See Fruit at a Gas Pump, Leave Immediately!

The next time you're stuck in traffic on Interstate 10 or navigating the spaghetti of the Phoenix freeway system, remember that things could always be worse!

Sources: Forbes | Patch | 12 News | AZ Central