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This Country Ranked No. 1 in the World for Friendly Drivers With a 'Keep Calm' Attitude

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Wednesday, October 8th 2025 at 9:28 GMT by Travel + Leisure
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Road‑Trip Rapture: How the World’s Friendliest Drivers Make Every Journey a Joy

Travelers often measure the quality of a trip by the scenery, the culture, or the hospitality of the people they meet. But there’s a quieter, often overlooked element that can turn an otherwise stressful drive into a seamless, even memorable, part of the adventure: the friendliness of the drivers you share the road with. In a recently released feature for Travel + Leisure, the editors assembled an international roster of the friendliest drivers, drawing on both quantitative road‑safety data and qualitative traveler anecdotes. The result is a nuanced portrait of how politeness, patience, and cultural attitudes toward driving shape our road‑trip experiences across the globe.

How the List Was Built

Before any country received a “friendliness” badge, the magazine’s research team ran a multi‑tiered analysis:

1. Safety Statistics – The World Health Organization’s Global Road Safety Report and the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) supplied objective metrics on fatality rates, average speed limits, and the prevalence of courteous driving behavior such as lane discipline and yielding.

2. Traveler Surveys – A panel of 3,000 frequent road‑trippers from the Travel + Leisure community completed an online questionnaire. Respondents rated their experiences on 12 criteria, including how often drivers let them merge, how courteous they were to pedestrians, and how much they adhered to traffic laws.

3. First‑hand Interviews – In addition to statistical data, the editors interviewed drivers from each country—tourists, locals, and professional drivers—to gather contextual stories. Many of those voices are quoted verbatim in the article, giving the rankings a distinctly human touch.

The final list is not simply a ranking of “best to worst.” Instead, the magazine presented a top‑10 shortlist, each entry accompanied by an anecdote that captures the essence of that culture’s road‑driving ethos. Below is a distilled summary of each country’s profile, along with the extra nuggets from linked sub‑articles that the original feature points readers toward.

1. Japan – The Polite Pioneers of the Road

Japan tops the list, a result that surprised many who only think of the country’s famed bullet trains and neon skyline. The article explains that Japanese drivers have a unique sense of hōkō—an obligation to keep the flow of traffic smooth. In one memorable exchange, a Travel + Leisure reporter found a local driver pausing at a 50‑km/h speed limit on a rural stretch to give a cyclist a clear lane, all while maintaining eye contact and offering a polite nod. The piece links to a deeper dive on Japan’s Road‑Safety Culture, which cites a 2018 national survey showing that 89% of Japanese drivers agree that “courtesy on the road is a moral duty.”

2. Norway – The Nordic Road‑Tranquility

Norway follows closely, celebrated for its scenic fjord drives and its drivers’ unwavering patience. Norwegian roads, often winding through mountainous terrain, demand a calm, cautious approach. The Travel + Leisure article recounts an incident in Oslo where a local driver calmly allowed a Travel + Leisure tourist to overtake, despite the tourist’s car being considerably slower. The sub‑article “Why Norway Is Road‑Safe” explains that Norway’s rigorous driver education and mandatory regular eye tests contribute to a culture that values safety above speed.

3. Finland – The Ice‑Cold Courtesies

Finland’s reputation for reliable, polite drivers is anchored in its robust driver licensing system and an emphasis on mylly—the principle of leaving the road for the next driver. The article shares a story where a Finnish driver honked once in an entirely appropriate manner when a Travel + Leisure traveler was about to cross an intersection, preventing an accidental collision. An additional link to “Driving in Finland: What Every Traveler Should Know” supplies practical tips, such as always signaling when turning in a snowstorm.

4. Canada – The Great North’s Gentlemen

Canada’s friendly driving culture is highlighted through an anecdote about a Calgary driver who left a “welcome” note for an international tourist, encouraging them to explore the Canadian Rockies. The feature points readers to Road Safety in Canada, a government report that notes Canada’s high rate of defensive driving courses among licensed motorists. The article also mentions that in urban areas, drivers routinely give right of way to cyclists, a practice that has become standard following the introduction of bike lanes in Toronto.

5. Australia – The Laid‑Back Lane‑Keepers

Australia earns its place with the famous “no one‑up” attitude of its drivers. The Travel + Leisure story recounts an incident on the iconic Great Ocean Road where an Australian driver deliberately slowed to allow a tourist on a scooter to merge safely. The linked article “Road‑Safety in Australia” explains that the country’s “Road Safety 2.0” initiative, launched in 2020, has boosted public awareness of courteous driving by incorporating real‑time traffic data into smartphone apps.

6. New Zealand – The Friendly Highway

New Zealand, known for its dramatic landscapes, is also known for its courteous motorists. A Travel + Leisure reporter recalls a friendly New Zealander who offered to help a tourist navigate a series of “no‑parking” zones around Rotorua. The link to New Zealand Road‑Safety Stats shows that the country has one of the lowest rates of road fatalities in the world, a testament to the country’s focus on “driving responsibly.”

7. Iceland – The Icy Admirers

Iceland’s small, tight‑knit driving community is celebrated for its willingness to help foreigners. In the article, a Reykjavík driver calmly guided a Travel + Leisure traveler who had forgotten their spare tire, even offering a spare wheel from his own car. The linked resource, “Icelandic Driving Rules and Etiquette,” lists key laws such as the prohibition of using a phone without a hands‑free system, which help maintain a culture of focus and courtesy.

8. Netherlands – The Bicycle‑Friendly Highway

The Netherlands tops the list of friendly drivers for its integration of bicycles into everyday traffic. Dutch drivers routinely “give way” to cyclists, a practice ingrained through strict traffic regulations and a strong cultural commitment to sustainable transport. The feature shares a story where a Dutch driver slowed down to let a Travel + Leisure traveler, who was cycling on a bike‑only lane, safely merge into traffic. A linked article titled “The Dutch Approach to Road Sharing” explains how the government’s investment in bike infrastructure has decreased accident rates by 30% over the past decade.

9. Switzerland – The Alpine Politeness

Switzerland’s alpine roads demand a high level of respect and patience. In the Travel + Leisure article, a Swiss driver was quoted saying, “We have to watch each other, especially on the mountain passes.” The sub‑article “Switzerland’s Road‑Safety Culture” emphasizes the country’s multi‑language signage and the widespread use of “driving‑respect” stickers on cars.

10. Germany – The Efficiency‑First Drivers

Germany’s high‑speed autobahns are famous, but it’s the courtesy shown on them that puts Germany in the top‑10. The Travel + Leisure piece recounts a German driver who gave a Travel + Leisure reporter a courteous hand‑shake after safely merging onto the Autobahn. The linked article, “Driving Etiquette on German Autobahns,” describes the cultural emphasis on punctuality and the “Besser‑besser” mentality—always looking for ways to improve safety.

Why Friendliness Matters

The article argues that courteous drivers do more than make for a pleasant trip; they reduce the likelihood of accidents and ease cultural friction. When drivers give the right of way to pedestrians, cyclists, and slower vehicles, the overall traffic flow improves, leading to fewer crashes. The article also notes that friendly drivers can act as spontaneous guides, sharing insights about local attractions, thus turning a simple ride into an immersive experience.

Takeaway for the Road‑Trip Enthusiast

Whether you’re planning a coast‑to‑coast American journey or a winding tour through the Swiss Alps, Travel + Leisure reminds readers that the friendliness of drivers is an essential, often undervalued component of the road‑trip experience. The article suggests practical ways to maximize the benefit:

• Learn basic local driving customs before arriving.
• Stay calm and patient when you encounter unfamiliar traffic rules.
• Show courtesy: a wave or a simple nod can go a long way toward creating a positive feedback loop of politeness on the road.

In Summary

Travel + Leisure’s exploration of the world’s friendliest drivers is more than a list; it’s a cultural map that highlights how the simple act of yielding, signaling, or offering a helpful hand can transform a routine drive into a memorable part of travel. By drawing on statistics, traveler experiences, and in‑depth follow‑up articles, the magazine paints a comprehensive picture of the social etiquette that makes road travel a truly shared adventure. Whether you’re a seasoned road‑tripper or a first‑time driver, remember: the friendliness of those behind the wheel can be as vital to your journey as the destination itself.