As you stated, the GP must have driven in the northeast. And then (s)he decided to make that claim on the 99.999% of the other roads in the country.
I've noticed that people in Boston, NYC, and some surrounding cities (like Newark & Jersey City) do not follow rules. Rules are only a guide. And scratches on cars have no value. It is something that just happens. So they just drive really close and possibly bump you. They feel it is like a tap on the shoulder and not a violation. It is all within their context. I guess they are used to it and feel it is normal.
Meanwhile, most everywhere else in the country, including nearby Albany and Philadelphia, people at least make it look like they are following the rules. And then when you hit the mid-west, they strictly follow the rules (outside of the universally accepted idea of going 10 over the speed limit). If you go south, they drive like they have nowhere to go and no timetable of getting there. I would rather drive around people in Boston than deal with that...