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Survey Ranks Country's Most Rude Drivers
Boston Scores Low On Niceness Scale
POSTED: 10:10 a.m. EDT May 22, 2003
UPDATED: 12:34 p.m. EDT May 22, 2003
BOSTON -- Charlotte, N.C., is ranked the safest city to drive in, according
to a new survey, but Boston drivers are considered some of the rudest and most dangerous drivers.
Anyone who spends much time behind the wheel in the United States will not
be surprised to learn that a new survey finds drivers are becoming more aggressive and increasingly rude.
"A lady had a Jesus sticker on the back of her car and a small child in the seat and she flipped me off and honked at me and cut me off," motorist Lauren Benko said.
Everyone has a story about being cut off or cursed at -- some even own
up to poor driving etiquette
"My husband is an aggressive driver. He likes to really ride people's
bumpers," one woman said.
According to the survey, New York drivers are worst offenders -- tailgating and making rude gestures. But Boston drivers were not too far behind. Bay State drivers also scored low on safety -- 45 percent of drivers said they committed at least four aggressive driving acts in the month prior to being surveyed, and 21 percent have dozed off behind the wheel at least once.
Chicago motorists took top honors for unsafe driving. Everywhere, though, distractions are problem. About 65 percent of the drivers surveyed considered talking on the cell phone dangerous, but most still admitted to doing it.
"I have many times talked on my cell
phone and have put makeup on in the morning -- cause of course I'm running
late," another motorist said.
Women drivers are more likely to primp in front of the rear view mirror
than men. Half of all motorists admit to dashboard dining, and a
surprisingly large percentage actually owned up to falling asleep behind
the wheel.
The survey was conducted by the steel industry, in an effort to convince
the driving public that, on these mean streets, steel cars keep drivers safer.
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