posted May 16, 2007 07:00 AM
Miami Drivers Rudest in AmericaFrom Renee Chapple,
Your Guide to Miami / Miami Beach, FL.
Miami recently earned the dubious distinction of being voted the home of the rudest drivers in America. The AutoVantage “In The Driver’s Seat” Road Rage study ranked the driving habits and attitudes of motorists across the United States and chose Miami as the unfriendliest place in America to get behind the wheel.
The rudest cities, in rank order, are:
Miami
Phoenix
New York
Los Angeles
Boston
The study also ranked the friendliest places to drive in America:
Minneapolis
Nashville
St. Louis
Seattle
Atlanta
Drivers were asked to provide the most common sources of road rage. They cited:
People “in a rush to get somewhere”
“People leaving too late and being in a hurry”
“People not going by the speed limit”
What are our reactions to road rage? About 40% of us blow our horn at offensive drivers, while 32% let loose a string of swear words.
Smaller numbers wave their fist or arms (9%), make obscene gestures (8%) or call the police (5%). One percent of drivers actually admitted to slamming into the car in front of them in reaction (intentional or unintentional) to road rage.
A similar study by Allstate ranked cities in terms of driver safety and found that Miami was number 176 on the list, making it the 20th worst city in the United States for driver safety. This was based upon Miami drivers being 31.6% more likely than the average motorist to have an accident and going an average 7.6 years between accidents.
http://miami.about.com/od/transportation/a/rudedrivers.htm
Having grown up in Miami and then having had the opportunity to drive in a few different parts of the country, I have to agree. I know I'm "home" when my knuckles turn white on the wheel and I'm supressing the urge to honk and yell at the many people speeding, swerving, cursing and honking around everyone else as if it were just another round of Mario Kart. Speed limits, stop lights and road signs? Merely suggestions.