Perhaps there is a difference in driving skills between Missouri and Indiana.
And I should have probably said MANY Midwesterners are terrible drivers. At least this is the case in my part of the Midwest. It's not that they are really bad drivers, but rather they fail to pay attention to what they are doing. They drive very fast, zip in and out of lanes suddenly, talk on their cell phones when they should be paying attention to the road, tailgate, cut across three lanes of traffic at the very last second in order to exit off the interstate, and a whole host of other things.
And hey, I'm a Midwesterner too, and I do some of those things sometimes as well!
I also had the experience of living in South Florida for a couple of years. Jesus have mercy! Talk about aggresive driving! WHOOOO!
David, this is getting even more hilarious, because my current boyfriend's from Indiana, and he won't even play the radio when he's driving, or have anything resembling a conversation. All eyes and thoughts on the road at all times, that's his motto. Would never in a million years occur to him to talk on a cell phone while driving. I must say that I don't do any of the things you described above. Always drive the speed limit, signal and check before changing lanes, one at a time, don't talk on a cell, don't tailgate, etc. So, in your estimation, pretty good drive. I do believe that a car is a weapon that can easily kill, and needs to be treated as such. However, unlike my boyfriend, when I'm the one driving, I, crazy girl that I am, do actually allow the stereo to be playing, and conversation to be rolling, even when it's only with myself:) Hope you don't think less of me for that.