Miami Tops Rude Driving List

May 15, 2007 -- Out of 25 major U.S. cities, Miami has the rudest drivers and Portland, Ore., has the most courteous drivers, a new poll shows.

It's Miami's second year in a row in the top spot, according to the telephone poll of 2,521 adults, including at least 100 people from each of the 25 cities.

The poll was conducted by Prince Market Research for AutoVantage, a roadside assistance company, between January and March.

All participants were adults who drove at least 10 minutes during rush hour every Monday through Friday. More than half -- 58% -- were women. More than 60% were 54 or younger.

Participants rated their own driving behavior and the driving behavior of other motorists in their city.

Topics included speeding, talking on the cell phone while driving, multitasking while driving, tailgating, cutting into lanes without notice, and slamming on brakes.

Rudest Drivers

Here is how the cities ranked in terms of drivers' courtesy, from rudest to most polite:

1. Miami
2. New York
3. Boston
4. Los Angeles
5. Washington, D.C.
6. Phoenix
7. Chicago
8. Sacramento, Calif.
9. Philadelphia
10. San Francisco
11. Houston
12. Atlanta
13. Detroit
14. Minneapolis-St. Paul
15. Baltimore
16. Tampa, Fla.
17. San Diego
18. Cincinnati
19. Cleveland
20. Denver
21. Dallas-Ft. Worth
22. St. Louis
23. Seattle-Tacoma
24. Pittsburgh
25. Portland, Ore.

Drivers Confess

In the poll, participants were asked about the top causes of road rage. They blamed bad, rude, or careless driving; anger, stress, or frustration; and hurrying, being impatient, or running late.

Participants were also asked how they had responded to bad drivers around them. Here are their responses:

• Honk their horn: 35%
• Curse at the other driver: 29%
• Waved their fist or arms: 10%
• Made an obscene gesture: 8%
• Called the police to report the driver: 6%
• Slammed into the car in front of them: 1%

Putting more police on the road was the?participants' top solution for reducing bad or rude driving.