The Big Apple was the least courteous city for road rage this year, up from number three last year, according to the fourth annual In the Driver's Seat Road Rage Survey by AutoVantage.


While Miami has taken the slot for worst for the past three years, the city was not on the list for this year's worst. The least courteous included Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Atlanta and Minneapolis/St. Paul.

AutoVantage conducts the survey to determine the driving habits and attitudes of commuters across the U.S., and to learn more about consumer views on the topic of road rage. The study defined road rage as angry drivers who overreact and lose their tempers and aggressive driving.

Portland, Ore., was named the most courteous city, moving up from the second slot last year. Other courteous cities were Cleveland, Baltimore, Sacramento, Calif., and Pittsburgh. Behaviors that lead to road rage included talking on cell phones, driving too fast, tailgating, eating or drinking, texting and e-mailing.

2009 survey results are as follows:
Least Courteous Cities (Worst Road Rage):

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

Most Courteous Cities (Least Road Rage):

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

Other cities surveyed include Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, Fla., and Washington, D.C.

For more survey results, visit www.autovantage.com.