Road rage: Angriest cities to drive

New York City has a number of nicknames such as the Big Apple and Gotham, but now it can add another distinction—America's Road Rage capital. According to the annual study by the Affinion Group, NYC tops the list as the least courteous U.S. city to drive in, up from its third place finish last year. It rudely took the title away from Miami. The city with the least road rage was Portland, Oregon, up from second place last year. See the list of top five best and worst cities below.

Cities with the worst road rage:

1. New York City
2. Dallas/Ft. Worth
3. Detroit
4. Atlanta
5. Minneapolis/St. Paul

Cities with the least angry drivers:

1. Portland, OR
2. Cleveland
3. Baltimore
4. Sacramento
5. Pittsburgh

The study was conducted via telephone (though not while driving!) between January and March 2009 with 2,518 interviews in 25 major metro areas.

Besides determining the best and worst cities for driving, the study also looked at driving habits and attitudes. The major causes of road rage, as determined by the study, includes aggressive driving, angry drivers, people in a hurry, traffic problems, and selfish drivers who are inconsiderate on the road.

The respondents noted behaviors by other drivers that can lead to road rage such as drivers who talk on the cell phone (which 84 percent of respondents see every day), speeding (58 percent), tailgating (53 percent), eating or drinking behind the wheel (48 percent), or texting while driving (37 percent).

In response to bad driving by others, those surveyed admitted to honking their horn (which 43 percent say they do every month), cursing, waving arms or fists, or making obscene gestures.

Road rage is a dangerous issue that can lead to car crashes, violence, and even death. In order to avoid becoming a victim of road rage, here is some advice for motorists:

• Stay in the right lane when not passing.
• Don't tailgate.
• Use your directional signal when changing lanes or turning.
• Don't honk your horn unnecessarily.
• If you see an aggressive driver, move out of the way.
• Be courteous to other drivers.
• Pay attention to the road.
• Never get out of your car to confront an aggressive driver.

While drivers who resort to violence on the road clearly have issues, aggressive driving behavior is mostly caused by stress. Here are some tips to avoid a meltdown behind the wheel.

• Plan ahead. If you're not rushed, you won't be as stressed.
• Get plenty of rest. (See our report on drowsy driving.)
• Know how you will get to your destination. (See our Ratings of GPS navigation systems.)
• Make sure your car is in good shape. (See our guide to car maintenance.)
• Try to wind down before your get behind the wheel.
• Develop coping strategies to avoid a blow up such as listening to calming music or a book on tape. Making good use of your time will reduce the stress delays cause.
• If you find yourself reaching a boiling point, pull over and take a break.

--Liza Barth