A recent survey indicates that the rudest drivers live in my city --- Miami, Florida. We're worst than New York and LA, dayum. I'm not proud, but I'm not surprised either. In Miami, if your car does not move within 1 millisecond after the light turns green, expect some impatient idiot to lean on his horn.

Miami drivers either speed or drive way too slow. Visiting drivers are obvious; they're the ones using their turn signals. Miami drivers also tailgate so close you want to ask for dinner and a movie. On the bright side, my driving experience has broadened my multicultural exposure. I've learned to use expletives in 7 languages, including sign language.

The Worst Cities for Road Rage: 1. Miami

2. Phoenix

3. New York

4. Los Angeles

5. Boston

Cities With the Most Courteous Drivers:
1. Minneapolis

2. Nashville

3. St. Louis

4. Seattle

5. Atlanta

Top 10 Driving Pet Peeves:

1. Motor Mouths: Distracted drivers talking on cell phones.

2. Turtle Racers: Slow drivers in the fast lane.

3. Piggybackers: Pushy drivers who tailgate.

4. Wacky Weavers: Drivers who weave through traffic to gain one or two car lengths.

5. Gap Snatchers: Obnoxious drivers who speed up to keep you from changing lanes.

6. Space Invaders: Hasty drivers who change lanes without signaling.

7. Road Ragers: Those drivers who feel the slow burn and red hot anger of road rage--and then act on it.

8. Speed Racers: Motorcyclists who race down the middle of a lane between cars.

9. Driving Divas: Women applying makeup and men shaving.

10. Morse Coders: Drivers who leave their turn signal on for miles.

As far as pet peeves, I'm guilty of #1 but I use my headset or speakerphone and definitely #9. Sorry, I'll try to do better but that won't help our rating. More and more people move here everyday without enough space to accommodate them.

© 2006 VANESSA BYERS, Vanessa: Unplugged