Reuters (posted on MSN)
updated 1:42 a.m. PT, Tues., June 16, 2009
NEW YORK - New York has overtaken Miami to be voted the U.S. city with the angriest and most aggressive drivers, according to a survey on road rage released on Tuesday
Miami topped the annual poll for the last four years but voters in 25 major metropolitan areas gave New Yorkers the prize for angriest, most aggressive drivers who tailgate, speed, honk their horns, overreact and lose their tempers.
The response of New Yorkers to bad drivers also helped push the city into the top slot for road rage.
"New Yorkers were most likely to wave their fists or arms. They were most likely to lay on the horn and they were most likely to make some sort of obscene gesture," said Michael Bush, of the marketing and consulting company Affinion Group, which commissioned the survey.
Dallas/Fort Worth came in second as the worst road rage city followed by Detroit, Atlanta and Minneapolis/St. Paul. Miami ranked a distant seventh.
Baltimore, Sacramento and Pittsburgh rounded out the top five cities with the most pleasant drivers.
Portland and Cleveland were voted to have the most courteous, considerate drivers.
"The real surprise to me is that there is no geographic way to break down road rage," Bush told Reuters. "It is very much on a city-by-city basis, as opposed to geographic area."
Causes for road rage
Talking on a cell phone was the behavior that irked motorists the most, with 84 percent of people citing it as the behavior most likely to incite road rage.
Driving too fast, tailgating, and eating and texting behind the wheel also caused stress and incited road rage.
Nearly 50 percent of the 2,518 people who took part in the AutoVantage Road Rage Survey also said other drivers frequently cut across the road without notice.
More than 25 percent of people in the telephone poll reported seeing drivers putting on make-up, shaving and reading while behind the wheel. A quarter said slamming on the brakes and running red lights sent their tempers flaring.
Detroit and San Francisco had the most text-happy drivers, while Miami won the distinction as the city where people were most likely to shave, read or put on make-up while driving.
'Slamming into another driver'
Most people, 43 percent, reacted to bad driving by honking the horn. But 36 percent resorted to cursing, 13 percent waved their fists or arms and 10 percent made an obscene gesture.
Seven percent were so angry they called the police and one percent admitted they had slammed into the car in front of them.
"In Washington, D.C., four percent of drivers admitted to slamming into another driver," said Bush. "They stand out in that one particular category."
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
What is the 80th Percentile for Drivers?
Here is an attempt to explain the concept of the 80th percentile as it relates to driver behaviour.
Hopefully you have experienced situations on an interstate where the flow of traffic is seamless. Everyone is moving smoothly and unimpeded. You are not overtaking cars in front and no one is on your tail. Lane changes are simply an exercise in drifting in and out as everyone is driving the same speed. Compare this with situations where everyone is jousting. Cars don’t seem to be moving ahead and drivers behind are pushing your tail or trying to pass. Lane changes are an exercise in straining your neck around and taking your life in your hands. You need to constantly change speeds or accelerate or brake.
Imagine that you are in your new sports car and you have been waiting for the right moment to test out its acceleration and speed. You are all alone on an open highway with no speed limits. You don’t have to worry about other motorists or speed traps. You can drive as fast as your heart desires with no restrictions. Your adrenalin flows as your roadster roars through the gears and the engine is full throttle and effortlessly takes you to 100 mph. You wonder how fast this baby can go as you push the accelerator to the floor. You feel the power beneath you as your car leaps ahead and now you are at 130…145… 160! Wow, this is absolutely exhilarating!
At some point; howevever, your hands tighten on the steering wheel and your heart starts to race. You begin to wonder. Is it wise to push a new car to such high speeds? Will I blow my engine? What if other cars do enter the highway further on ahead? If I hit a pothole or something on the road at this speed, it could cause me to wipe out. I know this baby can go fast but I don’t necessarily want to continue at this speed indefinitely. I love driving this car fast but I don’t want to be on edge the whole time; I just want to enjoy being in it.
Based on these precautions, you reduce your speed until eventually you settle into a speed that you feel comfortable. This is what the 80th percentile about. It is the collective mindset of a group of drivers on the highway at any one time based on road conditions, visibility, traffic, confidence that drivers have in their cars and their driving ability. Four out of five (80%) will settle into what they perceive as a comfortable level for the conditions. It is a flow which does not compromise their ability to get to their destination in reasonable time yet provides them with sense of confidence and security. They drive at a certain speed and dictate the general flow of traffic. This speed may be higher or lower than the posted limit but that is the speed that the consensus of drivers feel is the most efficient.
Drivers who do not move with this flow are an impediment to everyone else. If they are moving slower they are in the way and others will try and pass them. If they are moving faster they are constantly changing lanes or tailgating and trying to pass everyone else. This creates an imbalance and irregular behaviour as the majority tries to adapt to the few who are not within the consensus flow of traffic.
Hopefully you have experienced situations on an interstate where the flow of traffic is seamless. Everyone is moving smoothly and unimpeded. You are not overtaking cars in front and no one is on your tail. Lane changes are simply an exercise in drifting in and out as everyone is driving the same speed. Compare this with situations where everyone is jousting. Cars don’t seem to be moving ahead and drivers behind are pushing your tail or trying to pass. Lane changes are an exercise in straining your neck around and taking your life in your hands. You need to constantly change speeds or accelerate or brake.
Imagine that you are in your new sports car and you have been waiting for the right moment to test out its acceleration and speed. You are all alone on an open highway with no speed limits. You don’t have to worry about other motorists or speed traps. You can drive as fast as your heart desires with no restrictions. Your adrenalin flows as your roadster roars through the gears and the engine is full throttle and effortlessly takes you to 100 mph. You wonder how fast this baby can go as you push the accelerator to the floor. You feel the power beneath you as your car leaps ahead and now you are at 130…145… 160! Wow, this is absolutely exhilarating!
At some point; howevever, your hands tighten on the steering wheel and your heart starts to race. You begin to wonder. Is it wise to push a new car to such high speeds? Will I blow my engine? What if other cars do enter the highway further on ahead? If I hit a pothole or something on the road at this speed, it could cause me to wipe out. I know this baby can go fast but I don’t necessarily want to continue at this speed indefinitely. I love driving this car fast but I don’t want to be on edge the whole time; I just want to enjoy being in it.
Based on these precautions, you reduce your speed until eventually you settle into a speed that you feel comfortable. This is what the 80th percentile about. It is the collective mindset of a group of drivers on the highway at any one time based on road conditions, visibility, traffic, confidence that drivers have in their cars and their driving ability. Four out of five (80%) will settle into what they perceive as a comfortable level for the conditions. It is a flow which does not compromise their ability to get to their destination in reasonable time yet provides them with sense of confidence and security. They drive at a certain speed and dictate the general flow of traffic. This speed may be higher or lower than the posted limit but that is the speed that the consensus of drivers feel is the most efficient.
Drivers who do not move with this flow are an impediment to everyone else. If they are moving slower they are in the way and others will try and pass them. If they are moving faster they are constantly changing lanes or tailgating and trying to pass everyone else. This creates an imbalance and irregular behaviour as the majority tries to adapt to the few who are not within the consensus flow of traffic.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
The Most Annoying Driving Habits
The Most Annoying Driving Habits
We have all experienced incompetent drivers that have made our blood boil. How some drivers even obtain a license to operate a motor vehicle is beyond comprehension. The cumulative effect of these driving habits can be dramatic in North American metro areas.
First let’s preface this by pointing out that the roads today are better maintained than they were 20 to 30 years ago. Cars are also more efficient not only in terms of fuel consumption but also in terms of handling, braking, power ratios, tires and traction, transmissions, design etc. On the other hand the volume of traffic has increased. There are more cars, bicycles and pedestrians than ever before. In addition there are more complex, sophisticated road networks to negotiate such as overpasses and major junctions.
The advent of tools such as GPS systems, backup sensors, direct monitoring systems and roadside assistance, cruise control and availability of cell phones has provided many conveniences for drivers. They have also; however, provided drivers with a false sense of security and do not force them to be as reliant on actual driving skills, instincts and resourcefulness
The most annoying driving habits are not in reference to blatant violations such as running red lights or excessive speeding. They are about drivers, bikers and pedestrians who do not understand even the basic fundamentals of road protocol who are the source of increased road rage and elevated driver frustration. Why should the majority of drivers be inconvenienced and have to endure compromised levels of traffic movement and efficiency because some people are incompetent or don’t understand the rules of the road?
Let’s view this rhetorically. How would you feel about a dentist who was so meticulous in his work that you had to endure a four hour root canal? What if the majority of plumbers could complete a service call in 30 minutes but there were some who took 60 minutes, and as a result the standard minimum charge was increased to 45 minutes to account for their shortcoming and consumers had to pay more and settle for compromised levels of service? You might suggest getting rid of these slow pokes! You might feel you should not have to pay extra money or waste your time because some people are incompetent. You might maintain justifiably that unless these people can elevate their skill level to the expected norm they have no business doing what they do.
Here are some of the most annoying driving habits in no particular order.
Drivers who pass traffic on the right at intersections where the right lane is a designated turn lane and then force their way left back into traffic. Passing on the right where there is no official lane is illegal in most jurisdictions
Equally annoying are drivers who intend to make this maneuver when the light is red but now they are also blocking vehicles trying to turn right behind them.
Drivers who do not understand the concept of turning into the nearest available lane. They overshoot their lane or they are over cautious about moving into the correct lane. There is a standoff in the intersection to the point of monopolizing all movement until the light changes to yellow and even then there is uncertainty. The end result is that only one car negotiates the turn instead of several during a light cycle.
Drivers who do not understand the concept of the passing lane on highways
They will drive several hundred miles in the outside lane without regard to any other traffic. Worst, these drivers drive too slow in the passing lane and force others to pass them on the right.
Drivers who don’t understand the concept of the 80th percentile and do not move with the consensus flow of traffic.
People who drive considerably below the speed limit or for the road conditions and pose as self proclaimed vigilantes who insist they are advocating safety while inconveniencing almost everyone else
Drivers who don’t look or check blind spots before they change lanes
Drivers who don’t use turn signals or they just provide you the obligatory single flash AFTER they have already made their cut or lane change. Or they are approaching and you are waiting for them to pass but they inexplicably turn off without signaling and you are left wondering why you’re sitting there waiting. They expect you to read their minds.
Drivers who don’t signal a left turn while waiting at a red light until traffic has queued up behind them and the light has turned green.
Drivers who stop 20 feet or more behind other vehicles at stop lights or at the far side of intersections blocking others from moving into turning lanes or stranding vehicles behind them in the intersection after the light has changed.
Drivers who insist on pulling out in front of an oncoming vehicle and then travelling at an inordinately slow speed not making any effort to assimilate into the traffic flow. If they are not in any hurry why not wait until they have an opening commensurate with their intended speed of entry.
Drivers who are totally oblivious to anything around them including traffic patterns and flow in general. The vehicle behind them could be on fire but they would never notice because they don’t look in their mirrors. They don’t notice emergency vehicles or hear relevant sounds around them; some of them because they have music blasting, others because they are not paying attention. They don’t plan their turns or routes to avoid congestion. They don’t exhibit any conviction in actually getting anywhere. They make up their route as they go along.
Drivers that don’t make any more than a token effort to yield to emergency vehicles. They either keep driving until the emergency vehicle is upon them or actually overtakes them, or they stop right in the path of everything and make no effort to get out of the way
Drivers who instead of taking an alternate route, insist on trying to cross 4 lanes of congested traffic to get to their turn lane delaying almost everyone in the process.
Drivers who interpret a middle service lane normally reserved for simultaneous entry and turning from both directions, as a free travel lane that they can drive through for several hundred meters
Drivers who drive to the extreme left down the middle of the street for a hundred meters in advance of the designated entry point for a left turn lane and then are puzzled when others try to enter the lane and don’t expect a vehicle bearing down on them from the phantom lane on their left.
Drivers who have no concept of merging on highways. They make no attempt to move over to let others in or they are not aware that others are merging. When they are merging themselves, they stop in the lane or ramp and wait for an opening.
Drivers who do not stop at stop signs before turning right; and this doesn’t refer to snow or ice conditions where it is understood that drivers need to keep moving slowly for traction. Most will offer a token glimpse in the general direction of oncoming traffic; some don’t even bother to look.
We have all experienced incompetent drivers that have made our blood boil. How some drivers even obtain a license to operate a motor vehicle is beyond comprehension. The cumulative effect of these driving habits can be dramatic in North American metro areas.
First let’s preface this by pointing out that the roads today are better maintained than they were 20 to 30 years ago. Cars are also more efficient not only in terms of fuel consumption but also in terms of handling, braking, power ratios, tires and traction, transmissions, design etc. On the other hand the volume of traffic has increased. There are more cars, bicycles and pedestrians than ever before. In addition there are more complex, sophisticated road networks to negotiate such as overpasses and major junctions.
The advent of tools such as GPS systems, backup sensors, direct monitoring systems and roadside assistance, cruise control and availability of cell phones has provided many conveniences for drivers. They have also; however, provided drivers with a false sense of security and do not force them to be as reliant on actual driving skills, instincts and resourcefulness
The most annoying driving habits are not in reference to blatant violations such as running red lights or excessive speeding. They are about drivers, bikers and pedestrians who do not understand even the basic fundamentals of road protocol who are the source of increased road rage and elevated driver frustration. Why should the majority of drivers be inconvenienced and have to endure compromised levels of traffic movement and efficiency because some people are incompetent or don’t understand the rules of the road?
Let’s view this rhetorically. How would you feel about a dentist who was so meticulous in his work that you had to endure a four hour root canal? What if the majority of plumbers could complete a service call in 30 minutes but there were some who took 60 minutes, and as a result the standard minimum charge was increased to 45 minutes to account for their shortcoming and consumers had to pay more and settle for compromised levels of service? You might suggest getting rid of these slow pokes! You might feel you should not have to pay extra money or waste your time because some people are incompetent. You might maintain justifiably that unless these people can elevate their skill level to the expected norm they have no business doing what they do.
Here are some of the most annoying driving habits in no particular order.
Drivers who pass traffic on the right at intersections where the right lane is a designated turn lane and then force their way left back into traffic. Passing on the right where there is no official lane is illegal in most jurisdictions
Equally annoying are drivers who intend to make this maneuver when the light is red but now they are also blocking vehicles trying to turn right behind them.
Drivers who do not understand the concept of turning into the nearest available lane. They overshoot their lane or they are over cautious about moving into the correct lane. There is a standoff in the intersection to the point of monopolizing all movement until the light changes to yellow and even then there is uncertainty. The end result is that only one car negotiates the turn instead of several during a light cycle.
Drivers who do not understand the concept of the passing lane on highways
They will drive several hundred miles in the outside lane without regard to any other traffic. Worst, these drivers drive too slow in the passing lane and force others to pass them on the right.
Drivers who don’t understand the concept of the 80th percentile and do not move with the consensus flow of traffic.
People who drive considerably below the speed limit or for the road conditions and pose as self proclaimed vigilantes who insist they are advocating safety while inconveniencing almost everyone else
Drivers who don’t look or check blind spots before they change lanes
Drivers who don’t use turn signals or they just provide you the obligatory single flash AFTER they have already made their cut or lane change. Or they are approaching and you are waiting for them to pass but they inexplicably turn off without signaling and you are left wondering why you’re sitting there waiting. They expect you to read their minds.
Drivers who don’t signal a left turn while waiting at a red light until traffic has queued up behind them and the light has turned green.
Drivers who stop 20 feet or more behind other vehicles at stop lights or at the far side of intersections blocking others from moving into turning lanes or stranding vehicles behind them in the intersection after the light has changed.
Drivers who insist on pulling out in front of an oncoming vehicle and then travelling at an inordinately slow speed not making any effort to assimilate into the traffic flow. If they are not in any hurry why not wait until they have an opening commensurate with their intended speed of entry.
Drivers who are totally oblivious to anything around them including traffic patterns and flow in general. The vehicle behind them could be on fire but they would never notice because they don’t look in their mirrors. They don’t notice emergency vehicles or hear relevant sounds around them; some of them because they have music blasting, others because they are not paying attention. They don’t plan their turns or routes to avoid congestion. They don’t exhibit any conviction in actually getting anywhere. They make up their route as they go along.
Drivers that don’t make any more than a token effort to yield to emergency vehicles. They either keep driving until the emergency vehicle is upon them or actually overtakes them, or they stop right in the path of everything and make no effort to get out of the way
Drivers who instead of taking an alternate route, insist on trying to cross 4 lanes of congested traffic to get to their turn lane delaying almost everyone in the process.
Drivers who interpret a middle service lane normally reserved for simultaneous entry and turning from both directions, as a free travel lane that they can drive through for several hundred meters
Drivers who drive to the extreme left down the middle of the street for a hundred meters in advance of the designated entry point for a left turn lane and then are puzzled when others try to enter the lane and don’t expect a vehicle bearing down on them from the phantom lane on their left.
Drivers who have no concept of merging on highways. They make no attempt to move over to let others in or they are not aware that others are merging. When they are merging themselves, they stop in the lane or ramp and wait for an opening.
Drivers who do not stop at stop signs before turning right; and this doesn’t refer to snow or ice conditions where it is understood that drivers need to keep moving slowly for traction. Most will offer a token glimpse in the general direction of oncoming traffic; some don’t even bother to look.
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