Flashy Cars Attract Flashing Lights

A new yearlong research study concludes that certain types of automobiles are more likely to get traffic tickets. This study not only proves how faster cars attract speed demon drivers but supports the claim that the car you choose to drive can determine the type of driver you are.

The sub-culture of Hummer SUV drivers are notorious for standing out on the highway and this study shows that they are 4.63 times more likely to be issued a traffic citation than the average driver. ISO Quality Planning in San Francisco reviewed a total of 1.7 million drivers’ records for this study to help insurance companies identify risks among today’s drivers. At the top of the most ticketed list were muscle cars like the 507 horsepower Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG as well as the less than luxury priced Audi A4 sports sedan and Scion series of cars that are predominately driven by younger people.

Some of the less predictable ticket-magnets include the Subaru Outback , Toyota Camry Solara and Toyota Matrix. You can be sure that you will not be seeing the Subaru Outback burning rubber in street races during the new Fast and Furious movie. However, some vehicles that are built mechanically identical to the infamous Hummer like the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban are safely positioned on the least ticketed list. More rarely ticketed automobiles are pickups, minivans and Buicks.

Adding insult to injury after Hummer sales dropped 51% in 2008, an ISO Quality Planning representative was glad to spell out the stereotypes that were supported by the findings of this study:

"The sense of power that Hummer drivers derive from their vehicle may be directly correlated with the number of violations they incur," said Raj Bhat, president of ISO Quality Planning. "Or perhaps Hummer drivers, by virtue of their driving position, are less likely to notice road hazards, signs, pedestrians and other drivers."

Insurance companies generally agree with the research performed by ISO Quality Planning and are known to maintain higher rates for drivers of vehicles like Hummers or Scions. For insurers, it just makes sense to require a larger monthly premium to those who are statistically more likely to be in an accident.

Source: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/which-drivers-get-the-most-tickets.aspx?GT1=33004