Road rage: Angriest cities to drive

New York City has a number of nicknames such as the Big Apple and Gotham, but now it can add another distinction—America’s Road Rage capital. According to the annual study by the Affinion Group, NYC tops the list as the least courteous U.S. city to drive in, up from its third place finish last year. It rudely took the title away from Miami. The city with the least road rage was Portland, Oregon, up from second place last year. See the list of top five best and worst cities below.

Cities with the worst road rage:

1. New York City
2. Dallas/Ft. Worth
3. Detroit
4. Atlanta
5. Minneapolis/St. Paul

Cities with the least angry drivers:

1. Portland, OR
2. Cleveland
3. Baltimore
4. Sacramento
5. Pittsburgh

The study was conducted via telephone (though not while driving!) between January and March 2009 with 2,518 interviews in 25 major metro areas.

Besides determining the best and worst cities for driving, the study also looked at driving habits and attitudes. The major causes of road rage, as determined by the study, includes aggressive driving, angry drivers, people in a hurry, traffic problems, and selfish drivers who are inconsiderate on the road.

The respondents noted behaviors by other drivers that can lead to road rage such as drivers who talk on the cell phone (which 84 percent of respondents see every day), speeding (58 percent), tailgating (53 percent), eating or drinking behind the wheel (48 percent), or texting while driving (37 percent).

In response to bad driving by others, those surveyed admitted to honking their horn (which 43 percent say they do every month), cursing, waving arms or fists, or making obscene gestures.

Road rage is a dangerous issue that can lead to car crashes, violence, and even death. In order to avoid becoming a victim of road rage, here is some advice for motorists:

• Stay in the right lane when not passing.
• Don’t tailgate.
• Use your directional signal when changing lanes or turning.
• Don’t honk your horn unnecessarily.
• If you see an aggressive driver, move out of the way.
• Be courteous to other drivers.
• Pay attention to the road.
• Never get out of your car to confront an aggressive driver.

While drivers who resort to violence on the road clearly have issues, aggressive driving behavior is mostly caused by stress. Here are some tips to avoid a meltdown behind the wheel.

• Plan ahead. If you’re not rushed, you won’t be as stressed.
• Get plenty of rest. (See our report on drowsy driving.)
• Know how you will get to your destination. (See our Ratings of GPS navigation systems.)
• Make sure your car is in good shape. (See our guide to car maintenance.)
• Try to wind down before your get behind the wheel.
• Develop coping strategies to avoid a blow up such as listening to calming music or a book on tape. Making good use of your time will reduce the stress delays cause.
• If you find yourself reaching a boiling point, pull over and take a break.

--Liza Barth

Comments

[Ted]

Interesting article. I had no idea that the Minneapolis area would rank among the worst places for road rage. The folks I have met from that area have always been laid back. On the other hand, I'm surprised Baltimore did not rank in the worst category.

I would also like to add that people are talking and texting way too much on their phones while driving, thus contributing to road rage.

[Algy Goosen]

Interesting, I wonder how the USA's cities compare to other cities across the world. I think the underlying stress (or lack of inner peace) of the individual seems to play an important role. In South Africa where I grew up, road rage incidents led to death in many cases. My wife grew up in Paris, France which is just in another category of chaos / stress / impatience / craziness. We moved to Vancouver, Canada where people seem the most tolerant of any of the big cities that I've driven in. But now we live in the rural community of the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, and the stress-less driving and courteous drivers out here are simply the best I've ever encountered. I can recommend smaller villages.

[Tony van Osch]

I just got back from New York City and found that whilst the drivers there treat each other with contempt, they are inordinately tolerant of pedestrians, who wander into traffic at will. Then again, in a city where the vast majority of inhabitants don't own a car, pedestrians have the sheer advantage of numbers - they own the place. If Toronto pedestrians were as bold the ambulances couldn't keep up! I live in British Columbia and I feel I can safely say we have the world's worst drivers. They are not tolerant of others as much as too unskilled and ignorant of the rules of the road to really be aware of how badly everyone else is driving.