BuzzMashr

Last April, BuzzMashr reported on Trilegiant AutoVantage 2008 Road Rage Survey. Pittsburgh came in first as the most courteous city, with Miami being cited as having the rudest drivers.

Trilegiant has just released their 2009 survey results, and the results have changed significantly. First, the cities with the most polite drivers, compared to 2008 results:

1. Portland, OR (2008-Pittsburgh)
2. Cleveland (2008-Portland, OR)
3. Baltimore (2008-Seattle)
4. Sacramento (2008-Minneapolis/St. Paul
5. Pittsburgh (2008-Cleveland)

It looks like Seattle and Minneapolis/St. Paul dropped out of the list, while Portland drivers are even more polite! And congratulations to Baltimore, who was ranked the fourth worth city last year…and now they are third most polite drivers. Maybe those drivers got a good scolding from their mothers.

Now let’s look at the results for the cities with the worst drivers:

1. New York (2008-Miami)
2. Dallas/Fort Worth (2008-Boston)
3. Detroit (2008-New York)
4. Atlanta (2008-Baltimore)
5. Minneapolis/St. Paul (2008-Washington, D.C.)

Miami has finally ridden itself of the shame of having the worst drivers, but New York is now saddled with the dubious distinction of being the Road Rage Capital of the World. And what happened to Minneapolis/St. Paul? Last year they had the fourth most polite drivers, but now they have the fifth worst drivers! It just goes to show you that being polite isn’t necessarily a lifetime habit…you always have to work on your manners!

The full results of Trilegiant/Affinion’s Road Rage Survey.

Life Magazine has also featured the Affinion survey in a photographic article.

Pittsburgh ranked most courteous; Miami on the shortest fuse.

Are you the sort to blow your top when someone cuts you off in traffic? Has the thought of jumping out of your car and brandishing a baseball bat crossed your mind? Is that gun in your glove box loaded? Then you’re likely someone who has road rage issues.

AutoVantage, a Trilegiant car club discount company, released its third annual Road Rage Survey. AutoVantage polled drivers on what kinds of bad vehicular behavior they have witnessed. These traffic transgressions included talking on the cell phone, tailgating, driving too fast, unsafe lane switching, eating and drinking, brake-slamming, and running red lights. Talking on a cell phone came in at #1, with 98% responding they had seen this behavior.

The survey then asked the drivers how they reacted to this rude behavior, with a temper tantrum menu including honking, cursing, waving fists and arms, obscene gestures, and even slamming into the back bumper of the offending driver. Yikes. Hitting the horn came in at 43% as the most common reaction. Only 1% admitted to going into ramming speed and administering on-road corporal punishment.

AutoVantage also asked these angry drivers if current road rage deterrents are effective. The results were mixed. For example, 56% responded that making cell phone use in cars illegal would be effective, 26% said it might help, and 22% felt it would not help.

The cities cited as having the most courteous drivers were Pittsburgh, Portland (Oregon), Seattle, Minneapolis, and Cleveland. But apparently you better hone your defensive driving skills and keep an extra eye on your rearview mirror in Miami, Boston, New York, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. Happy motoring!

More information on AutoVantage and Trilegiant:

• AutoVantage announces winner of 20th anniversary contest
• Liz Allison Teams With AutoVantage With Maintenance Tips
• Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions Builds on Base from Netcentives
• America Online and Trilegiant Corporation Announce New Marketing Agreements