NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. December 2, 2025 — New Jerseyans eyeroll the driving abilities of New Yorkers, but consider themselves pretty bad too, according to the latest Rutgers-Eagleton Poll. One-third of New Jersey voters say New York has the worst drivers (33%). Slightly more than 1 in 5, however, say that New Jersey drivers are the worst (22%), followed by Pennsylvania (14%), Florida (10%), Massachusetts (5%), California (4%), and Connecticut (2%).
“If you’re a native New Jerseyan, it’s largely understood that only we can make fun of our state and we’ll defend our homeland to any outside bullies,” said Jessica Roman, director of data management and analysis at the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling (ECPIP) at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. “A bit of self-loathing in the data is on brand for New Jersey residents. That said, the top three being New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania is not surprising when you consider who New Jerseyans typically encounter most on the road.”
Voters put New York as having the No. 1 worst drivers, regardless of partisanship, gender, race and ethnicity, age, and income. Among those with some college education or less, New York (30%) and New Jersey (29%) drivers are essentially tied for the worst. These voters are also about twice as likely to say New Jersey drivers are the worst compared with those with a bachelor’s degree or additional schooling (15%).
Looking beyond the No. 1 spot, Republicans (29%) and independents (23%) are more likely than Democrats (14%) to say New Jersey drivers are the worst. Democrats, on the other hand, are more likely than Republicans to say Floridians are the worst drivers (17% versus 3%, respectively). Results are from a statewide poll of 795 voters contacted via live calling and texting from Oct. 3 to Oct. 17. This registered voter sample has a margin of error of +/- 4.6 percentage points.
ABOUT THE EAGLETON CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEREST POLLING
Home of the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll, the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling (ECPIP) was established in 1971 and is the oldest and one of the most respected university-based statewide polling operations in the United States. Now in its 52nd year and with the publication of over 200 polls, ECPIP’s mission is to provide scientifically sound, nonpartisan information about public opinion.
ABOUT THE EAGLETON INSTITUTE OF POLITICS
The Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University–New Brunswick. The Eagleton Institute studies how American politics and government work and change, analyzes how the democracy might improve and promotes political participation and civic engagement. The Institute explores state and national politics through research, education and public service, linking the study of politics with its day-to-day practice.
ABOUT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY-NEW BRUNSWICK
Rutgers University-New Brunswick is where Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, began more than 250 years ago. Ranked among the world’s top 60 universities, Rutgers’s flagship university is a leading public research institution and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. It is home to internationally acclaimed faculty and has 12 degree-granting schools and a Division I Athletics program. It is the Big Ten Conference’s most diverse university. Through its community of teachers, scholars, artists, scientists and healers, Rutgers is equipped as never before to transform lives.
