Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

AutoVantage Road Rage Survey Finds Tampa “Most Likely to Multi-task, and Eat and Drink”: 

The commute to work can be an unpleasant one for people across the country, and the road seems to be getting even bumpier for Tampa drivers.

The third annual In The Driver’s Seat Road Rage Survey, commissioned by AutoVantage, a leading national auto club, found that Tampa drivers, tied with Baltimore and New York, ranked No. 1 for being the most likely to observe other drivers eating or drinking while driving every day, compared to 24 other major American cities.  Tampa drivers are also most likely to observe other drivers multi-tasking (like putting on makeup, shaving or reading) while driving ever day.

Overall, Tampa was named the ninth least courteous city in terms of road rage in the survey.

Thank your gods McDonald’s stopped serving that McDLT (some assembly required). But seriously, you people have to manage your time better. You can’t be eating while driving. After all, your children are watching.

Bonus link for our friends over at Stuck in the 80’s:  Jason Alexander (aka George Costanza) sings his way through a McDLT advertisement, looking a bit like a Miami Vice extra.

For the last three years, AutoVantage has measured road rage for America’s biggest cities, and then listed those with the rudest drivers along with the nicest.

In 2006, Miami had the rudest drivers in the nation.  In 2007, Miami had the rudest drivers in the nation.  In 2008, Miami has the rudest drivers in the nation.

In 2006, Minneapolis had the nicest drivers, while the most considerate drivers were found in Portland in 2007.  This year, Pittsburgh beat out Portland for title of most courteous.

Believe it or not, Tampa’s drivers were ranked 10th nicest in 2007 (Tampa wasn’t included in the 2006 list).  But they fixed the calculations in 2008, and found that Tampa has the 9th rudest drivers in the US (tied with Dallas).

We’ll get to the reasons why Tampa ranked there in the next post.  In the meantime, check out the 2008 Road Rage National Results.

Rudest:

1. Miami
2. Boston
3. New York
4. Baltimore
5. Washington, D.C.
6. Atlanta
7. Los Angeles
8. Phoenix, Ariz.
9. Dallas and Tampa, Fla. (tied)

Most Considerate:

1. Pittsburgh
2. Portland, Ore.
3. Seattle
4. Minneapolis
5. Cleveland
6. Cincinnati
7. Sacramento, Calif.
8. Chicago
9. San Diego
10. San Francisco

According to a study released last week by Allstate Insurance Co., the top 10 cities with the highest teen driving death rates were Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Fla.; Orlando/Kissimmee, Fla.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Nashville, Tenn.; Birmingham, Ala.; Phoenix; Kansas City; Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; and Louisville, Ky.

That’s right, Tampa/St. Pete is number 1, with two other Florida metro area right behind.

In an editorial this morning, the Tampa Tribune says More Must Be Done To Prevent Teen Deaths Behind The Wheel:

Speeding was a factor in 27 percent of the fatal crashes involving teens in the Bay area, the report shows. Alcohol was a factor in 7 percent, while drug use was cited in 4 percent.

The biggest common denominator was the lack of seat belt use - cited in nearly 41 percent of fatal crashes. This is somewhat surprising, considering the state’s emphasis on seat belt safety, including the “Click It or Ticket” enforcement program and a three-year-old law mandating that drivers and occupants under 18 buckle up.

Officers have the power to stop a vehicle when occupants and drivers under 18 aren’t wearing seat belts - and for safety’s sake, they should do so. Perhaps enforcement will motivate young people to strap themselves in.

So they want cops to do more to help. But that’s not all.

Driver’s education requirements also need to be reevaluated. As it stands, a 15-year-old can obtain a learner’s permit and start driving under supervision - without ever taking a course that provides behind-the-wheel training. All a teenager must do is complete an online course, have proper identification and obtain a parent’s written consent.

…Some Bay area lawmakers, including state Sen. Victor Crist of Tampa, worked to make driver’s education courses - taught by professionals - mandatory this past legislative session, but were unsuccessful.

…Requiring teens to take full-fledged driver’s education programs could save lives. It’s that simple.

So they want schools to do more, too.

But what of the mothers and fathers of these teens? Do they have a role in driving lessons? Nope - they get a free pass so they can keep an eye on American Idol.

Counting on parents to teach their teens to drive, as state law encourages, may not be the best approach…

If a child dies behind the wheel, his or her parents are the ones who suffer most. You could say they have a vested interest in their teen’s driving habits, and should do all they can to show those kids the way.

Victor Crist and the Tribune want to give parents another place to point fingers, and another reason to be less interested in their children’s lives. This sort of thinking makes me wonder if they feel parents should bother with anything beyond conception.