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How safe are drivers in your city?

By: Drivers.com staff

Date: Wednesday, 05. July 2006

A study of U.S. drivers' driving habits and safety concerns shows that while those behind the wheel are worried about the behavior of their fellow drivers, they are still likely to speed (driving 10 miles per hour or more over the speed limit), tailgate, and drive through yellow lights that are turning red.

According to the annual consumer survey, commissioned by The Steel Alliance, 95 percent of drivers said they considered tailgating an aggressive driving act, followed closely by making rude gestures (91 percent) and passing on the shoulder (90 percent). When asked which of these actions they also considered dangerous , 84 percent cited tailgating and passing on the shoulder (83 percent).

Though Americans recognize these acts to be aggressive and dangerous, a significant number still owned up to committing them. When asked about their driving behavior over the past month, 62 percent admitted to driving through yellow lights that were turning red, and 61 percent said they had driven 10 or more miles over the speed limit. See the two tables below for details.

The survey also found regional differences in the way Americans conduct themselves on the road. In-depth surveys conducted in Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Detroit, Chicago, and Cleveland revealed that drivers' aggressive driving habits vary from city to city. A grade, which compares the safety of drivers across the U.S., was given to each city based on the findings. For example:

When asked what safety component of an automobile they considered the most effective, the majority of the drivers (81 percent) said that in the case of a car crash, steel protection of any kind would effectively protect them and their family. More specifically, 67 percent cited steel safety cages, while 61 percent cited steel side-impact beams. Other methods mentioned were seat belts (78 percent) and airbags (61 percent).

"With large numbers of drivers travelling over the Memorial Day weekend, highway delays and congestion are more likely to bring out the worst in drivers," said Mark Stephenson, president of The Steel Alliance . "This study gives us more insight into how people are driving and what they consider aggressive and dangerous. We want to help drivers understand the problem and ensure a higher level of safety and security on the road."

To protect against aggressive drivers, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that drivers plan ahead before taking trips, consider alternate routes, obey the speed limit, and always try to be courteous while driving.

The Steel Alliance is a coalition of more than 145 steel producers and affiliated organizations that came together for the first time in 1997 to launch a consumer campaign to promote the benefits of steel.

What do people consider dangerous?

Is this act dangerous?

Percentage
who say YES

Tailgating

84%

Passing on the shoulder

83

Driving through yellow lights that are turning red

73

Waiting until the last second to merge with traffic on the highway

73

Failing to yield to merging traffic

71

Changing lanes without signaling

70

Driving 10 mph or more over the speed limit

62

Cruising in the passing lane, forcing others to pass on the right

58

Making rude gestures

50

Flashing high beams at the car in front of you

54

Driving 10 mph or slower under the speed limit

42

Pulling into a parking space someone else is waiting for

39

Double parking

38

Honking the horn

26


How do Americans define aggressive driving?

Is this act aggressive?

Percentage
who say YES

Tailgating

95%

Making rude gestures

91

Passing on the shoulder

90

Pulling into a parking space someone else is waiting for

88

Failing to yield to merging traffic

85

Flashing high beams at the car in front of you

74

Waiting until the last second to merge with traffic on the highway

66

Changing lanes without signaling

66

Driving through a yellow light that is turning red

62

Honking the horn

53

Double parking

53

Driving 10 mph or slower under the speed limit

27

Methodology

A nationally representative telephone survey of 1000 adult licensed drivers was conducted by Global Strategy Group between March 17 and March 28, 2000. Concurrent telephone surveys were conducted with approximately 100 adult licensed drivers in each of five cities Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Minneapolis. A summary of the key findings from the national and city-specific surveys was then developed. The margin error is + 3.1%.

Each city was given two grades based on responses to two different questions. The "Perceived Safety Grade" was based on the percentage of adults who think the drivers in their city are "less safe" than drivers in other cities. Cities with fewer "less safe" responses get a higher grade.The "Actual Safety Grade" was based on the percentage of adults who committed many (4 or more) aggressive driving acts in the past month. Cities with fewer drivers committing many aggressive driving acts get a higher grade.

--See more Drivers.com articles and links about road rage and aggressive driving.

Further comments to this article have been disabled.


All Comments (11)

Showing 1 - 11 comments

Paul in Minneapolis,

In the three years I've lived in Minnapolis I have seen over 99% of motorist run stop signs and if they stop it is on the crosswalk. 75% run red lights making right turns, even with pedistrians in the crosswalk. Just using two of them most dangerous to human life actions, why does Minneapolis get a "C". Across the board, maybe and F+, at best.
When looking at police driving 90% get an F.
If just looking for the ability to follow state traffice laws then even lower.
I tend to be on streets were people walk, not interstates. To me, people who think only of themselves are the lowest and should be punished.

Dan,

Driving 10 under is WAY more dangerous than driving 10 over. 5-10 over is pretty standard, and that's what most traffic drives at. That's why cops don't pull you over until you're going almost 15 over. If you're going 10 under the limit, you're actually 15-20 mph slower than the flow of traffic, which makes you a road hazard.

1955,

Hello Zach, The ones who are rushing home to the burbs account for 87% of the traffic in south-east michigan due to the fact that there are no decent jobs elsewhere in the state. You have 2 choices, keep up or get run over.

Greg,

SOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don,

It looks like roads are going to be in a constant state of constuction from now on. One solution - live downtown, work downtown.Another solution - live near where you work, wherever it is. End an even easier one - let the construction guys get more coordinated and work in the off hours, not the rush hours.

Zach,

As a Detroit driver (All of southeast Michigan actually) It's not really the drivers in Detroit that are bad, but its the ones who are rushing home to the suburbs. It's horrible. And all the constant construction doesn't help a bit.

Mel,

I tried a simulator in a shopping mall recently. It was awesome. The graphics are fantastic. The scenery and the traffic look almost like a movie.I was able to overtake, make left turns at intersections and deal with other traffic. Everybody should have the chance to do at least dome of their driving on a simulator like this. However, I have not seen any good programs for the computer.

christy,

do you do it on the computer

Walter H.,

Hi Student Driver.

Welcome to the world of driving. It is hard to fit in out there and people get very impatient if you don't behave the way they do.

student driver,

I was out FIRST time on the road with instructor, I did ok, but i had horrible turns, but experianced drivers were actually worse than me, i wuz illegally cut off 5 times, and tailgated, everyone was speeding passed me, and some guy flipped me off for no reason, and i heard this car screech while turning and people were not making legal parks when moving out into the road. this is in utah hahaha

me,

simple build more roads rather than blowing millions on sports establishments.


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