Putting The Brakes On Road Rage

(NAPSI)-Headaches on the highway have plagued our roads since the Model T. But the attitudes and multitasking natures of America's drivers have made some roadways a ticking time bomb for sudden, uncontrollable outbursts of road rage, according to a new survey.


To learn more about what drives commuters to rage, the second annual "In The Driver's Seat Road Rage Survey" questioned drivers in 25 major metropolitan areas.
It was sponsored by AutoVantage, a leading national auto club.


Here's a look at some results:



Top Five Worst Road Rage Cities


1. Miami

2. New York

3. Boston

4. Los Angeles

5. Washington, D.C.


Causes Of Road Rage


When asked the major causes of a driver's personal road rage, the most frequent themes were people being in a hurry, running late, being impatient and/or speeding. But behaviors by other drivers can cause road rage, too. They include:


• Driving too fast (66 percent observe this happening every day)

• Tailgating (57 percent see this every day)

• Cutting over without notice (45 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)

• Do other tasks while driving (63 percent observe this at least once a week)

• Run red lights (63 percent observe this at least once a week)

• Slam on the brakes (63 percent see this happening at least once a week).


Reducing Road Rage


Drivers weighed in on how to reduce rude driving and road rage:

• Increase police presence (62 percent thought this would help)

• Make it illegal to use cell phones while driving (53 percent)

• Use automatic cameras to catch bad drivers (51 percent)

• Conduct a major public awareness campaign (32 percent).


Liz Allison, a spokesperson for AutoVantage, is a NASCAR TV personality, radio host and best-selling author. She has served as a racing analyst for TNT, CNN/SI., TNN, CNN, ESPN and ESPN2.

Members of AutoVantage can save on car care at some 19,000 service locations. To learn more, visit www.autovantage.com or call (800) 876-7787. on road rage.