Steering Clear Of Road Rage (NAPSA)—It’s important to put the brakes on your emotions whenever you get behind the wheel. That’s the advice from experts who say that road rage—when drivers act irrationally because of anger or oSCL my Mi # = impatience—leads to danger. “When drivers let their emo- tions get the best of them, they take it out on other drivers, putting everyone on the road at risk,” says Captain Mark Welch, chief of public affairs for the Florida Highway Patrol. So which city’s drivers suffer from the worst road rage? The third annual In The Driver’s Seat Road Rage Survey, commissioned by AutoVantage, a lead- Controlling road rage can help keep you and other drivers safe. Avoiding Road Rage Experts say simple relaxation ing national auto club, found that the least courteous city in the country is Miami, followed tips such as deep breathing, or even listening to calming music, Miami takes the crown as road tractions can help keep you safe— and possibly prevent road rage in by Boston and New York. It’s the third consecutive year that rage capital of America. The other two cities in the bottom five were Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The most courteous city is Pittsburgh, followed closely by Portland, Ore., Seattle, Minneapo- lis and Cleveland. Whatreally ticks drivers off? According to the survey: Drivers who talk on their cell phones (88 percent observe this happening every day) Driving too fast (59 percent) Tailgating (56 percent) Drivers eating or drinking while driving (49 percent) can help quell road rage. Also, paying attention to the road and not your cell phone or other disother drivers. Police are doing their part as well, with many departments watching out for road rage behaviors. New stepped-up measuresincludetroop- ers in unmarkedvehicles that track ageressive drivers, as well as air- craft and motorcycle units that patrol the skies and roadwaysfor road rage. Gauge Your Rage If you'd like to check your own road rage temperature, visit www.gaugemyrage.com. Thesite also has tips for avoiding road rage and more information on the survey.
