Road Rage Survey Reveals Best, Worst Cities
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CL Community Team
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From: Canada
Road Rage Survey Reveals Best, Worst Cities
NORWALK, Conn., May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The first annual In The Driver's
Seat Road Rage Survey, commissioned by AutoVantage, a leading national auto
club, found that the least courteous city in the country is Miami, followed
by Phoenix and New York. The other two cities in the bottom five were Los
Angeles and Boston. The most courteous city is Minneapolis, followed
closely by Nashville, Tenn., St. Louis, Seattle and Atlanta.
The In The Driver's Seat 2006 AutoVantage Road Rage Survey, released
today, was conducted to determine the driving habits and attitudes of
commuters across the U.S. and to learn more about consumer views on the
topic of Road Rage.
"Road rage has unfortunately too often become a way of life, both on
and off the track," said NASCAR driving legend and AutoVantage spokesman
Bobby Hamilton. "More and more, in cities across America, people are acting
out their frustrations with dangerous results. It's bad for professional
and everyday drivers alike.
"Our new Road Rage survey shines the light on emerging driving trends,
and there are some very interesting results."
The survey's best and worst are:
Least Courteous Cities (Worst Road Rage):
-- Miami
-- Phoenix
-- New York
-- Los Angeles
-- Boston
Most Courteous Cities (Least Road Rage):
-- Minneapolis
-- Nashville
-- St. Louis
-- Seattle
-- Atlanta
Other cities surveyed include Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas/Fort Worth,
Denver, Detroit, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco and
Washington/Baltimore.
"This new study focuses on important attitudes and habits of drivers on
the open road nationwide," said Brad Eggleston, vice president of
AutoVantage. "This groundbreaking research is an important tool to help
educate and influence safer driving habits throughout the United States."
When asked the major causes of road rage in the survey, the most
frequent theme was people being in a hurry, running late, being impatient
and/or speeding.
-- "They are in a rush to get somewhere"
-- "People leaving too late and being in a hurry"
-- "People not going by the speed limit"
American drivers also feel that stress, frustration, bad moods, and
being generally aggressive contribute to the widespread phenomenon of road
rage.
-- "People being stressed out"
-- "People cut you off and do not signal"
-- "They think the road belongs to them"
Behaviors by other drivers that cause stress for commuters, and which
can lead to road rage, include:
-- Driving too fast (57 percent observe this happening every day)
-- Tailgating (50 percent see this every day)
-- Cutting over without notice (44 percent see this every day)
Commuters also reported that other drivers frequently:
-- Talk on their cell phones (98 percent observe this at least once a
week)
-- Run red lights (59 percent observe this at least once a week)
-- Slam on the brakes (54 percent see this happening at least once a week)
As a reaction to rude or bad driving by others, people surveyed
reported that they:
-- Honked their horn at the offending driver (40 percent)
-- Cursed at the other driver (32 percent)
-- Waved their fist or arms (9 percent)
-- Made an obscene gesture (8 percent)
-- Called the police to report the driver (5 percent)
About one in one hundred (1 percent) said that they actually slammed
into the car in front of them, although not always intentionally. "One time
someone plowed into me, so I plowed into the back of another car," said one
respondent.
Other key findings of the study:
-- Younger drivers, and those who have the farthest commutes are most
likely to react to an aggressive or rude driver.
-- There is no real difference between men and women when it comes to road
rage.
-- Besides talking on the cell phone while driving, the one thing that
drivers in this survey were most likely to have done is drive too fast
(64 percent admit that they do this at least some of the time).
-- Tailgating. Drivers in Miami are most likely to see this behavior daily
(63 percent), while drivers in St. Louis are the least like to see this
(41 percent).
-- Slamming on the brakes. Drivers in Los Angeles (33 percent) and Miami
(33 percent) are most likely to witness this behavior daily, while
drivers in Minneapolis are least likely (14 percent).
-- Stealing parking spots. One-half (51 percent) witness this behavior
once in a while. Drivers in Miami (8 percent) are more likely to see
someone "stealing" their parking space than drivers in Dallas/Ft.
Worth, Washington/Baltimore and Cleveland.
-- Running red lights. One-fourth (24 percent) said they see drivers every
day who run through red lights.
-- Driving too fast. Drivers in Dallas/Ft. Worth (68 percent) are more
likely to see drivers driving too fast than those in Minneapolis (47
percent) and Cleveland (47 percent).
-- Talking on Cell Phone. Eighty percent say they see drivers every day
talking on their cell phone. A full 91 percent of Dallas/Ft. Worth
drivers said they see this behavior daily.
Overall, 30 percent said they see drivers doing other things like
putting on makeup, shaving or reading while driving. Los Angeles (43
percent) emerged as the city where this is most likely to be seen, while
Seattle (18 percent) emerged as the place where this behavior is least
likely to happen.
Bobby Hamilton
Bobby Hamilton, a spokesman for AutoVantage, is the 2004 NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series Champion after achieving four career NASCAR Winston
Cup Series victories. He founded Bobby Hamilton Racing, which owns and
operates three trucks in the NASCAR circuit.
Survey Methodology
Prince Market Research, an independent marketing research company, was
commissioned to conduct a nationally representative telephone study with
consumers in 20 major metropolitan areas in the U.S. to learn more about
consumer views on road rage. All telephone calls were conducted between
Jan. 27 and March 8, 2006, during which period, a total of 2,040
interviews, lasting an average of five minutes, were completed. No
incentive was offered and the sponsor of the research was not revealed. The
margin of error is +/- 2.2 percent.
About AutoVantage
Members of AutoVantage (http://www.autovantage.com/ or 1-800-876-7787)
can save from 5 to 20 percent on car care at some 19,000 service locations,
including participating AAMCO, Jiffy Lube, Meineke and American Car Care
Center locations. AutoVantage also offers 24-hour nationwide emergency
towing, roadside assistance, and lockout protection from its network of
more than 10,000 emergency roadside assistance providers. Trip routing for
maps and door-to-door driving directions across the U.S. are also included.
AutoVantage is offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the membership,
insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services
that touch the lives of millions of Americans.
About Affinion Group
Affinion Group is a leading affinity direct marketer of value-added
membership, insurance and package enhancement programs and services to
consumers. With more than 30 years of experience, Affinion Group currently
offers its programs and services worldwide through more than 4,500 affinity
partners. Its diversified base of affinity partners includes leading
companies in a wide variety of industries, including financial services,
retail, travel, telecommunications, utilities and Internet. Affinion Group
also has a growing loyalty solutions operation that administers
points-based loyalty programs. Based in Norwalk, Conn., Affinion Group has
approximately 3,600 employees throughout the United States and in 13
countries across Europe.
SOURCE AutoVantage
Seat Road Rage Survey, commissioned by AutoVantage, a leading national auto
club, found that the least courteous city in the country is Miami, followed
by Phoenix and New York. The other two cities in the bottom five were Los
Angeles and Boston. The most courteous city is Minneapolis, followed
closely by Nashville, Tenn., St. Louis, Seattle and Atlanta.
The In The Driver's Seat 2006 AutoVantage Road Rage Survey, released
today, was conducted to determine the driving habits and attitudes of
commuters across the U.S. and to learn more about consumer views on the
topic of Road Rage.
"Road rage has unfortunately too often become a way of life, both on
and off the track," said NASCAR driving legend and AutoVantage spokesman
Bobby Hamilton. "More and more, in cities across America, people are acting
out their frustrations with dangerous results. It's bad for professional
and everyday drivers alike.
"Our new Road Rage survey shines the light on emerging driving trends,
and there are some very interesting results."
The survey's best and worst are:
Least Courteous Cities (Worst Road Rage):
-- Miami
-- Phoenix
-- New York
-- Los Angeles
-- Boston
Most Courteous Cities (Least Road Rage):
-- Minneapolis
-- Nashville
-- St. Louis
-- Seattle
-- Atlanta
Other cities surveyed include Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas/Fort Worth,
Denver, Detroit, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco and
Washington/Baltimore.
"This new study focuses on important attitudes and habits of drivers on
the open road nationwide," said Brad Eggleston, vice president of
AutoVantage. "This groundbreaking research is an important tool to help
educate and influence safer driving habits throughout the United States."
When asked the major causes of road rage in the survey, the most
frequent theme was people being in a hurry, running late, being impatient
and/or speeding.
-- "They are in a rush to get somewhere"
-- "People leaving too late and being in a hurry"
-- "People not going by the speed limit"
American drivers also feel that stress, frustration, bad moods, and
being generally aggressive contribute to the widespread phenomenon of road
rage.
-- "People being stressed out"
-- "People cut you off and do not signal"
-- "They think the road belongs to them"
Behaviors by other drivers that cause stress for commuters, and which
can lead to road rage, include:
-- Driving too fast (57 percent observe this happening every day)
-- Tailgating (50 percent see this every day)
-- Cutting over without notice (44 percent see this every day)
Commuters also reported that other drivers frequently:
-- Talk on their cell phones (98 percent observe this at least once a
week)
-- Run red lights (59 percent observe this at least once a week)
-- Slam on the brakes (54 percent see this happening at least once a week)
As a reaction to rude or bad driving by others, people surveyed
reported that they:
-- Honked their horn at the offending driver (40 percent)
-- Cursed at the other driver (32 percent)
-- Waved their fist or arms (9 percent)
-- Made an obscene gesture (8 percent)
-- Called the police to report the driver (5 percent)
About one in one hundred (1 percent) said that they actually slammed
into the car in front of them, although not always intentionally. "One time
someone plowed into me, so I plowed into the back of another car," said one
respondent.
Other key findings of the study:
-- Younger drivers, and those who have the farthest commutes are most
likely to react to an aggressive or rude driver.
-- There is no real difference between men and women when it comes to road
rage.
-- Besides talking on the cell phone while driving, the one thing that
drivers in this survey were most likely to have done is drive too fast
(64 percent admit that they do this at least some of the time).
-- Tailgating. Drivers in Miami are most likely to see this behavior daily
(63 percent), while drivers in St. Louis are the least like to see this
(41 percent).
-- Slamming on the brakes. Drivers in Los Angeles (33 percent) and Miami
(33 percent) are most likely to witness this behavior daily, while
drivers in Minneapolis are least likely (14 percent).
-- Stealing parking spots. One-half (51 percent) witness this behavior
once in a while. Drivers in Miami (8 percent) are more likely to see
someone "stealing" their parking space than drivers in Dallas/Ft.
Worth, Washington/Baltimore and Cleveland.
-- Running red lights. One-fourth (24 percent) said they see drivers every
day who run through red lights.
-- Driving too fast. Drivers in Dallas/Ft. Worth (68 percent) are more
likely to see drivers driving too fast than those in Minneapolis (47
percent) and Cleveland (47 percent).
-- Talking on Cell Phone. Eighty percent say they see drivers every day
talking on their cell phone. A full 91 percent of Dallas/Ft. Worth
drivers said they see this behavior daily.
Overall, 30 percent said they see drivers doing other things like
putting on makeup, shaving or reading while driving. Los Angeles (43
percent) emerged as the city where this is most likely to be seen, while
Seattle (18 percent) emerged as the place where this behavior is least
likely to happen.
Bobby Hamilton
Bobby Hamilton, a spokesman for AutoVantage, is the 2004 NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series Champion after achieving four career NASCAR Winston
Cup Series victories. He founded Bobby Hamilton Racing, which owns and
operates three trucks in the NASCAR circuit.
Survey Methodology
Prince Market Research, an independent marketing research company, was
commissioned to conduct a nationally representative telephone study with
consumers in 20 major metropolitan areas in the U.S. to learn more about
consumer views on road rage. All telephone calls were conducted between
Jan. 27 and March 8, 2006, during which period, a total of 2,040
interviews, lasting an average of five minutes, were completed. No
incentive was offered and the sponsor of the research was not revealed. The
margin of error is +/- 2.2 percent.
About AutoVantage
Members of AutoVantage (http://www.autovantage.com/ or 1-800-876-7787)
can save from 5 to 20 percent on car care at some 19,000 service locations,
including participating AAMCO, Jiffy Lube, Meineke and American Car Care
Center locations. AutoVantage also offers 24-hour nationwide emergency
towing, roadside assistance, and lockout protection from its network of
more than 10,000 emergency roadside assistance providers. Trip routing for
maps and door-to-door driving directions across the U.S. are also included.
AutoVantage is offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the membership,
insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services
that touch the lives of millions of Americans.
About Affinion Group
Affinion Group is a leading affinity direct marketer of value-added
membership, insurance and package enhancement programs and services to
consumers. With more than 30 years of experience, Affinion Group currently
offers its programs and services worldwide through more than 4,500 affinity
partners. Its diversified base of affinity partners includes leading
companies in a wide variety of industries, including financial services,
retail, travel, telecommunications, utilities and Internet. Affinion Group
also has a growing loyalty solutions operation that administers
points-based loyalty programs. Based in Norwalk, Conn., Affinion Group has
approximately 3,600 employees throughout the United States and in 13
countries across Europe.
SOURCE AutoVantage
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 212
From: Miami, Florida
Having grown up in Miami, I 100% agree with that statement. I remember that one of the major news networks did a 1 hour story devoted entirely to road rage and a significant portion took place in Miami at some interchanges that I distinctly remember getting into conflict with other drivers.
Yet, consider internationally.
However, Mexico City is 100% worse and there are tons of other places on the planet that have incidents that end up deadly. For most of you, be glad you drive in the U.S. However, growing up in Miami probably prepared me as best as I could for Mexico City.
The worst in my opinion has to be Caracas, Venezuela. I remember that it was so common when I lived there in the 70s to hear, "tienes tu pistola" which would inevitably go into everyone's glove box and be pulled out at the first sign of an irate driver. Mexico City has such excellent gun control that I worry a lot less.
Yet, consider internationally.
However, Mexico City is 100% worse and there are tons of other places on the planet that have incidents that end up deadly. For most of you, be glad you drive in the U.S. However, growing up in Miami probably prepared me as best as I could for Mexico City.
The worst in my opinion has to be Caracas, Venezuela. I remember that it was so common when I lived there in the 70s to hear, "tienes tu pistola" which would inevitably go into everyone's glove box and be pulled out at the first sign of an irate driver. Mexico City has such excellent gun control that I worry a lot less.
Last edited by Lexmex; May 16, 2006 at 10:09 PM.
Some of the foriegners we've come across in travels; when they learn we are from So. Cal ask if people get shot very often while driving. As a whole, our area and stateside driving isn't veiwed very well. 
The parts of Japan we drove, drivers and pedistrians were courteous. We stopped to let some school children cross the street and after crossing, they all bowed and waved to us. Won't get that here.
The parts of Japan we drove, drivers and pedistrians were courteous. We stopped to let some school children cross the street and after crossing, they all bowed and waved to us. Won't get that here.
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 212
From: Miami, Florida
My godmother is from Wales and I have found there and in England to be delightful in terms of driving. I remember we were on one of the M motorways by Coventry once and a traffic accident had occurred stopping all traffic and miraculously (in my opinion) the people just moved as much as they could to let ambulances get through. Down here in Mexico, nobody would even care. However, my friends out there say that the pleasure of pure driving is actually a nightmare with a lot of police oversight on speeding and other infractions not to mention insane taxation. However, it beats a gun in everyone's glove compartment. 
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 0
From: MD
Originally Posted by Lexmex
My godmother is from Wales and I have found there and in England to be delightful in terms of driving. I remember we were on one of the M motorways by Coventry once and a traffic accident had occurred stopping all traffic and miraculously (in my opinion) the people just moved as much as they could to let ambulances get through. Down here in Mexico, nobody would even care. However, my friends out there say that the pleasure of pure driving is actually a nightmare with a lot of police oversight on speeding and other infractions not to mention insane taxation. However, it beats a gun in everyone's glove compartment.
Originally Posted by RA40
Some of the foriegners we've come across in travels; when they learn we are from So. Cal ask if people get shot very often while driving. As a whole, our area and stateside driving isn't veiwed very well.
The parts of Japan we drove, drivers and pedistrians were courteous. We stopped to let some school children cross the street and after crossing, they all bowed and waved to us. Won't get that here.
The parts of Japan we drove, drivers and pedistrians were courteous. We stopped to let some school children cross the street and after crossing, they all bowed and waved to us. Won't get that here.
seriously, i really clicked on this thread to CONFIRM that los angeles is on the list. people in that city drives crazy -- in a bad way i should add. road rage is everywhere. i am training my wife to NOT be one
Trending Topics
Wow I thought the DC Metro area would make that list... Minneapolis is nice I have family there that I visit it's night and day compared to here lol
Now that I look at that list seems most the nice drivers are inland and midwest and the not so nice ones are on the coast miami ny la boston etc........
Now that I look at that list seems most the nice drivers are inland and midwest and the not so nice ones are on the coast miami ny la boston etc........
Last edited by plex; May 17, 2006 at 05:29 AM.
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,392
Likes: 2
From: Florida
I hate driving in Miami. People there are crazy and it seems everyone there is really aggressive driving. I was waiting for a light to turn green and a guy that was trying to merge in from a side street was inches from ramming my passenger door. I guess he wanted me to BACK UP so that he could get in 
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 212
From: Miami, Florida
Originally Posted by Incendiary
I thought "an armed society is a polite society"...
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,639
Likes: 2
From: California
Originally Posted by rominl
seriously, i really clicked on this thread to CONFIRM that los angeles is on the list. people in that city drives crazy -- in a bad way i should add. road rage is everywhere.
Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
From: CA
Its no suprise that LA is on the worst list. There is no public transportation alternative and traffic is ridiculous 95% of the time. On any given day, drivers are least focused on driving. I see woman putting on makeup, people on the phone, people eating while steering with their knees, drinking hot coffee, watch TV, playing with NAV, etc etc.
Combine this with the amount of people who dont know how to properly drive and LA is a nightmare. The one comment I always get from visitors is "\I thought traffic was bad where I come from, but LA is horrible"
Combine this with the amount of people who dont know how to properly drive and LA is a nightmare. The one comment I always get from visitors is "\I thought traffic was bad where I come from, but LA is horrible"
CL Community Team
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,335
Likes: 61
From: California
Here is Southern California traffic is only getting worse. If at all possible I try not to make the trips to Orange County or Los Angeles County even on the weekends. It's kinda crazy sometimes, it could be a Sunday night and traffic is at a standstill. It seems like people are on their way to work...
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