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news
Car wheel at speed copyright Simon MacMichael.jpgSurvey suggests BMW drivers ‘most likely to show psychopathic traits’
In findings that may not surprise regular readers of our Near Miss of the Day series showing close passes and the like by drivers on cyclists, a survey of 2,000 UK motorists suggests that people who drive BMWs, closely followed by Audi drivers, are most likely to be psychopaths.
Drivers of a range of makes and models of cars were asked to complete the ‘psychopath test’ which uses the answers to 12 questions of where they sit on the psychopathy scale, and thereby their likelihood of exhibiting abnormal, anti-social behaviour.
Now, psychopathy itself is a very serious psychological condition (see the end of this article) and we’re not going to kid ourselves that this is a peer-reviewed study published in a respected academic journal – in fact, it comes from the website Scrap Car Comparison, with the research conducted by 3Gem.
Moreover, with 20 car marques included, that’s an average of 100 drivers of each brand, hardly the biggest sample size, and rather than being based on any clinical assessment, the survey the results are derived from is based on multiple choice questions.
It does provide, however, a talking point, and it is certainly interesting that it’s drivers of the two brands most regularly called out by cyclists on social media, or on comments here, that top the list. Confirmation bias, anyone?
The results rank people on a scale running from 0-18 (no psychopathy) through 19-26 (psychopathy possible) and 27-36 (psychopathy likely), with the average score 6.6 (you can take the test yourself by following the link at the bottom of the blog page on the Scrap Car Comparison website – this writer scored 6).
BMW drivers scored an average of 12.1, with motorists driving Audi cars closely behind at 11.7 – both being the only marques significantly above average, with Fiat drivers in third place at 7.0, Mazda and Honda rounding out the top five at 6.4 and 6.3 respectively.
Even those highest average scores fall well within the ‘no psychopathy’ range, of course – although it may well be that some drivers scored higher.
The lowest scores, meanwhile, came from drivers of Toyota or Vauxhall cars, both on 4.7, followed by SEAT at 4.3, Kia at 4.2, and – bringing up the rear on 3.2, Skoda.
The results were also analysed by fuel type and colour of vehicle, and whether the car had a personalised number plate.
In terms of the former, people with electric cars scored 16.0, hybrids 9.8, diesel 7.0 and petrol 5.0.
Gold-coloured vehicles had the highest average score at 12.7, followed by brown at 12.2 – while silver, on 5.5 and red on 4.9 scored lowest (it’s worth pointing out here that silver is a very common paintjob on a BMW or Audi, given it is Germany’s traditional racing colour, as red is, say for Italy, or blue for France).
Meanwhile, owners of personalised number plates scored well over double what other drivers did, at 13.8 versus 5.3.
Dan Gick, managing director of Scrap Car Comparison said: “The popularity of true crime documentaries has resulted in a worldwide fascination with psychopaths. So, we were curious to discover whether there was any correlation between the car you drive and where you might sit on the psychopath scale.
“While our findings might back up some existing stereotypes of drivers who are unsafe on the road, it’s worth noting that none of the levels seen in our study were any cause for concern, and while certain TV shows or films might trivialise what it means it be a psychopath, it is a condition that should be taken seriously.
“For us, the number one priority is ensuring that whether you drive a BMW or a Skoda, you’re staying safe while driving so that your car doesn’t have to prematurely hit the scrap heap,” he added.
The company added at the end of its blog post:
While the findings from our study are interesting, and none of our drivers surveyed scored highly enough to suggest they do possess clear traits generally exhibited by a psychopath, psychopathy is a condition that affects lives, and therefore should be taken seriously.
If you think you possess traits of psychopathy, or are worried about any of the themes or content discussed in this study, you can find more information and support at mind.org.uk.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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63 comments
Well I could reduce my carbon emissions by 100% by living off the land, only using what can be grown (via plants or animals) and travelling only by human or wind power.
Or I could take some other fucker out, and reduce their carbon emissions by 100%.
Either way is a win against climate change, so it's just a logical extension.
As a bmw driver myself
I always try and make more effort to drive politely to avoid the stereotype. Would still choose cycling over driving in most imstances but it's nice to have the option. Don't think I'm a psychopath but I suppose that's for other people to judge.
Your (lack of) life makes me feel sad.
I feel sorry for him too. Tough place to be when he's having to go such lengths just to be controversial.
Yep. Who doesn't he like in Walsall I wonder? And anyone reckon he is a BMW or Audi driver?
There We Are Then.
20 per cent funny
80 per cent s***c**tery
I tend to avoid putting any value on generalisations or stereotyping. However, there are some instances (this being one) that hold some weight. The study is limited in many respects but reinforces something that human psychology would conclude. Individuals that have materialistic needs (prestige cars) are more likely to be self-centred and less likely to show empathy to others. In my experience, the majority of close passes that come from drivers of 3 German prestige car manufacturers (Mercedes Benz being the other).
It's no mystery, brands actively appeal to their demographic, their stereotype. BMW has chosen to appeal to a certain type, and are mocked for it by their competitor in this classic Audi ad. The shame is that since then Audi have decided to go the same way, so their ad now looks distinctly hypocritical.
https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/mid-90s-audi-ad-drove-home-its-me...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7qI4no2xDco
(I still think it's a brilliantly crafted ad, not a frame wasted)
Yes it was always BMW that had the reputation solely years ago and then Audi decided they wanted to join the club.
I think in the bigger picture all car manufacturers have to shoulder their responsibility to why we have such bad driving culture in this country. Every single car ad showcases a hassle free, driving experience ( usually on empty roads) that is as far away from reality as it gets. So it's really no surprise that many motorists get easily frustrated by anything (particularly cyclists) that impedes their progress.
Yes, I was beeped today for having the temerity to turn right off a main road. The driver wanted to speed up due to the change in limit but he had to slow for me.
Shame I couldn't catch him up and ask him what he would have done if I was turning right in my car.
Did Audi want to join the club, or were some BMW drivers unhappy with their reputation, and moved to Audi, (bringing it with them)?
I'm a motorist, a cyclist, a pedestrian, a pilot and a helmsman and I don't get patictularly frustrated by cyclists.
Although, I do, often, find outgroup hostility fairly tedious.
(Sample No: 1).
Do you get many cyclists at 32000 feet ?
More at 33,000 and 42,000 feet, I'd guess. Very often travelling to stage races on the continent.
Point of intrest - they have issues with the hydraulic brakes - need bleeding after landing, extra work for the mechanics, who often get frustrated by the extra work - so I'm told.
Cripes - the current crop are really taking their altitude training seriously, or this Everesting thing has got out of hand.
They certainly seem to take air purity seriously.
The survey is spurious, and has little to do with psychopathy.
It's a misrepresentation of the nosolgical and forensic literature.
I think all White audi drivers should be swabbed with their DNA compared to Interpol's Most Wanted list
I think all White Audi drivers should be swabbed with their DNA compared to Interpol's Most Wanted list
Yep! Here's white Audi Q5 T90 JDT crashing through red lights at 50+ mph while towing a caravan. The rear of the caravan crosses the Stop line 2.2 seconds after the light turned red
And this is the shot when the light turned red- needless to say, there was no response from Lancashire Constabulary: the UK answer to Baltimore Gun Trace Task Force, LC really are Bad Cops
A man called Ove on people who drive an Audi: "Four zeros on the grill and a fifth behind the wheel."
Yes, I liked that one.
Wouldn't be late great Ove Andersson, would it? Former boss of TTE....who was a competitor of Audi.
um... no !
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18774964-a-man-called-ove
It's interesting that a study, even a fairly basic one, tells us what we have seen from experience.
Black BMW X5s - Hate them with a passion following an almost head on a few years back. Me, downhill, probably over 30mph. Arsehat in X5 overtaking a line of traffic on the wrong side of the road probably at well over 70mph.
The BMW X5 was regularly top of the most nicked car list. So if you saw it being driven like it was stolen, it most likely was!
https://www.insurancefactory.co.uk/news/April-2015/bmw-x5-the-uks-most-s...
Here is some research based on actual data of driving convictions.
https://press.gocompare.com/news/bmw-drivers-named-most-dangerous-on-uk-...
No suprise on the vehicle manufacturer with the highest percentage of driving offences.
No surprise on the vehicle manufacturer with the highest percentage of driving offences
Unfortunately, it doesn't aggregate all the psycho-nutter upper quartile for narcissism, selfishness and willingness to 'knock that hospital down' and 'knock all those cyclists, climate change protesters and Remembrance Day parades off the road' in order to 'knock a couple of minutes off the journey' BMW drivers together.
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