What Is The Bay Area's Meanest Commute?
POSTED: 1:51 p.m. PDT September 9, 2003
UPDATED: 10:29 p.m. PDT September 10, 2003
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Bay Area's most aggressive drivers are often on the same five
stretches of road.
According to a new study, the region's meanest motorists can be
found on the Nimitz Freeway (Interstate Highway 880), the Oakland-to-Vallejo
portion of Interstate Highway 80, U.S. Highway 101 from San Francisco to San
Jose, the MacArthur Freeway (Interstate Highway 580) and state Highway 17
between San Jose and Santa Cruz.
That's the opinion of 793 Bay Area and Sacramento-based American
Automobile Association members polled for the 2003 Aggressive Driving
Attitude Survey, released Tuesday AAA's Northern California division.
The study also revealed respondents' feelings about driver
etiquette, or lack thereof.
For instance, 57 percent of those surveyed say
aggressive driving has increased in the Bay Area since last year, and 47
percent say men are more aggressive drivers. Seventy-six percent agree that
waving one's hand is the best apology for offending or endangering others on
the road, while only 10 percent would lend the same weight to shrugging one's
shoulders.
"Just getting to and from work can be a harrowing ordeal," said
AAA spokesman Sean Comey. "People are commuting over longer distances and
patience is wearing thin. Our members are telling us they think a lot of
drivers are dangerously aggressive when they get behind the wheel."
Poll participants also ranked what they see as the 15 most
careless and irritating roadway behaviors. Tailgating topped the list,
followed by weaving in and out of traffic, running red lights, cutting
someone off and distracted driving due to cell phones, eating and children.
As an addendum to the study, the AAA offered its top tips for
dealing with road rage, such as avoiding eye contact with mad drivers and
calling 911 if a driver's aggression becomes harassment.
Bay Area's Meanest Highway Commutes |
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