America's motorists are becoming more dangerous and increasingly rude, according to the fifth annual "Nerves of Steel" aggressive driving survey conducted by TheSteelAlliance.

An increase from 2002, 65% consider talking on the cell phone without a headset dangerous; and ironically, 37% still admitted to doing it in the month prior to the survey. Further irony: Studies demonstrate that it's the conversation--headset or not--that distracts the driver.
The "Nerves of Steel" survey also revealed that an alarming 36% of motorists have fallen asleep behind the wheel while driving, with men two-thirds more likely to doze off than women.
Bill Heenan, president of TheSteelAlliance, said each year the steel industry conducts the "Nerves of Steel" survey to steer drivers in the right direction when it comes to road safety.
The survey ranks drivers in three categories: rudeness, safety and drowsy driving behavior.
Nine out of 10 drivers nationwide said tailgating, making rude gestures and passing on the side of the road are the most widely considered acts of aggressive driving. The survey reveals New York City drivers are three times as likely to "flip-the-bird" versus the national average. Miami -- the rudeness winner last year -- earns an "F", but falls behind New York City's top ranking. Both Dallas and Los Angeles earned "D" grades.
For the third year in a row, driving defensively (49%) and driving courteously (25%) are the best advice drivers gave for protection against acts of aggression.
Charlotte, N.C., drivers make a memorable debut by capturing two titles from Seattle, the 2002 city with the safest and most polite drivers. Minneapolis-St. Paul also received an "A" grade.
When it comes to aggressive driving, the survey polled an equal number of male and female drivers in each city.
Men are more likely than women to admit they committed an act of aggressive driving. For example, 67% of men and 44% of women said they have driven 10 miles per hour or more over the speed limit in the month prior to the survey. When it comes to multi-tasking behind the wheel, the survey reveals that women are three times more likely than men to "put on makeup, shave or comb hair" while driving.
"While great strides have been made among drivers to improve safety and rudeness on the nation's highways, we must remember that all drivers can contribute to even greater improvements in driver safety," said Heenan. "We all need to slow down, be more courteous and refrain from other distractions while driving. It's also very important to remember to avoid getting behind the wheel when you are feeling drowsy or fatigued."
For the first time, the "Nerves of Steel" survey inquired about drowsy driving, revealing cities in the West are snoozing more frequently. Seattle drivers rank as the country's drowsiest – 86% said they sometimes feel drowsy while driving, compared with 76% of drivers nationwide. Denver ranks as the sleepiest city as a shocking 45% of Denver motorists admitted to falling asleep, at least once, behind the wheel, which was well above the national average of 36%.
In an effort to make roads safer and more polite, TheSteelAlliance encourages motorists to log on to www.TheNewSteel.com/nos to sign a pledge to drive safely. Those participating will automatically be entered into a sweepstakes to win one of 25 sets of Continental steel-belted radial tires. The sweepstakes ends on July 11, 2003.
Global Strategy Group conducted the "Nerves of Steel" survey by telephone in the spring of 2003, interviewing 2,400 participants with valid driver's licenses.
They were asked a series of questions about driving habits, including their own actions while on the road. The questions highlighted issues of safety, aggressiveness, rudeness and drowsy driving.