Roadrage

For some reason, people driving in this state seem to, somehow, be getting worse. Living in utah for the last 20 years has given me a somewhat narrow-minded view on traffic, but a bit of traveling has shown me some comparison. When I started driving 5 years ago, it seemed like everyone was in almost a better mood while behind the wheel. I could drive on the freeway at night with noone tail-gating me while I am doing 85 in the slow lane, there were only occasionally the idiots weaving in and out of traffic with no turn signals, and I had never been honked at if I take more then 0.1 second to move after a stop light turns green. The more time that passes though, the more I dread having to drive to work every morning.
For example. Yesterday I was on my regular route home from work, about 5 miles away. Everyone is generally well behaved around there due to the SLC Police beehive is fairly close, and the Impala's and Crown Vic's are buzzing around. At a stoplight, a pedestrian was crossing the road. Some goober in a shitty old Toyota was trying to turn right at a 'no right turn on red' intersection, and proceeded to honk repeatedly at the pedestrian to get out of thier way. The pedestrian had to jump to the side to avoid being turned into roadkill. As everyone still waiting at the stoplight shakes their head, a Salt Lake cop pulls out of the line a few cars back and races after the idiot who wasn't smart enough to see the big "POLICE'' written on the side of the car. Serves him right.
I don't know exactly why it has seemed to get worse over the years, but the theory I hear is the more stressed you are, the worse and less impatient you are in traffic. One trend I have noticed is the people with $400 old Chevys and one month old license plates seem to be the ones driving like there is a fire chasing them moreso then the ones with newer cars. Generally speaking, those who have reliable cars usually worry less about thier cars breaking down. Those in the $400 cars bought from pick-n-pull have to rush wherever they are so their car doesn't overheat as fast and the tires don't pop. Also, they don't care about thier cars as much as new car owners due generally. Any one have any other ideas?The exception to that rule here, is the nepoleon-esque people with lifted trucks (mostly diesels) with gaudy wheels, even more gaudy chrome, and usually blaring music you can barely hear over their stupid 6-inch exhaust tips. It doesn't matter if it's brand new or 40 years old, they all drive like they are invinsible on the road. (These people should be loaded into a ship and blown up near the bermuda triangle.)While being in New York, California, Idaho etc.. I have had some comparison. The people in major cities like Manhattan and LA are terrible drivers. But they are awesome at it. If people drove like that here in Utah, There would be an accident on every corner. The people in Idaho drive like the idiots. Always. Like Grandma on nyquil. But I digress..

Everyone mellow out. Please. I love driving, but not when you all make it a battle field.
Yours,

James