September 17, 2025 // 10 Minutes
In South Dakota, we’re all good drivers, right? Sure, we speed sometimes. And if a text comes in, we’ll probably check it — just really quick. And we would let that guy in, but it seems like he’s just trying to skip the line. Maybe it’s a more complicated question than we thought: Are South Dakotans good drivers? We hit the streets (and the Driver License Exam Station waiting room) to find out.
Our top takeaways:
We get the basics…
South Dakota drivers aren’t clueless. When it comes to the fundamentals, most of our interviewees knew their stuff. People could explain how a four-way stop works, and everyone recognized that drinking, texting and speeding are dangerous behind the wheel. Lots of nodding along and affirmative “mmhmms.” We quickly learned, though, that knowing the rules doesn’t always mean we follow them.
…But the “vibes” outweigh the law.
Once people got more comfortable, the concessions (and confessions) started rolling in. Rolling through stop signs, going a little over the speed limit, not bothering to check blind spots, sending a quick text… everybody was willing to forgive themselves for momentary lapses in judgment.
Nobody thinks they’ll get in a crash, especially if they just take their eyes off the road for a quick second. But it only takes one mistake or mix-up — by you or another driver — for some bad stuff to go down.
We gotta go fast.
Speeding. South Dakota, we need to talk about it. Apparently, it’s an epidemic around here — just about everyone admitted they consider speed limit signs more like… suggestions. People admitted to regularly driving five, ten, even 15 miles per hour over the limit. Sorry to burst your bubble, but it’s not legal even if “everybody else is doing it.” Trust us. We asked an officer.
Distracted driving is (still) a big problem.
With as many complaints as we heard about people on their phones behind the wheel, you’d think our interviewees were saints in that department. Not so much. Our respondents made it clear that our phones have become central parts of our lives — it seems impossible to leave them alone while we’re driving.
But the risks outweigh the rewards. Reminder: Texting and driving is illegal in South Dakota, and for a reason. Taking your eyes off the road, even for a few quick seconds, is like driving blindfolded. It can wait. We’ll all survive.
We all think zipper merging is a great idea. Until…
Zipper merging reduces traffic backups. That’s not up for debate.
And most of our interviewees even agreed it seems like a great idea. Showing a little compassion for other drivers speeds things up and lowers the risk of a crash. In practice, though? We have some work to do. Some people admitted to getting upset when someone in the closing lane tries to merge — but they’re just trying to follow the rules.
The lesson? Keep it moving. Keep it cool. A little kindness and a moment of patience goes a long way.
So… Are South Dakotans good drivers?
Depends who you ask. We got answers everywhere from “pretty chill” to “absolutely insane.” One thing stood out: People seemed to consider themselves safe, competent drivers, but they had a lot to say about what other people were doing wrong. Driving might feel like a solo activity, but Traffic Trivia reminded us that the road is a shared space. Be honest about your own habits. Be patient with other drivers. And help us make South Dakota’s roads safer for everyone.
Watch the full Traffic Trivia video to test your own knowledge — and maybe learn a thing or two from your fellow drivers.
