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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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But at least they're halfway there...
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63 comments
Seems likely that it's because BMW and Audi are common as sales rep cars. Audi only gained the reputation when they started becoming fleet cars.
No idea why vauxhall were so far down the list, they're often far worse than the others.
All a bit silly isn't it. Having to opt in to the test massively skews the results. BMW no longer sits on a pedestal (at least UK). Competitors caught up, manufacturers charge the same now and there is no longer the strong 80s style mid-level exec association. Now it's more blacked out windows and teenagers making dubious drop offs in 1 series cars.
Plebs will drive a old BMW or a Mazda. They both cost a grand. Just one might make it through the MOT whilst the other will eclipse the cost for a service.
BMW make some lovely cars. I just don't think they attract many more psychos. Just aspirational ones!
I used to own both an Audi and a Skoda, and I'm pretty sure I didn't switch to being or not being a psychopath depending which one I was driving at the time, so we should remember these are only generalisations.
But as a generalisation, no real surprise in the top two.
Though I do also wonder how Range Rover drivers would have scored if they weren't lumped in "Other".
https://metro.co.uk/2021/11/20/range-rover-mum-who-rammed-insulate-brita...
https://www.bigissue.com/news/the-mum-who-drove-her-range-rover-into-ins...
Science requires generalisations, however, to generalise from qualatative experince is unscientific and is likely to be confounded by issues such as sample bias, the internal bias of the obsever(s) (conscious and unconscious) etc. you'd need to introduce controls to the study to.
Pretending this study has any scientific validity is absurd. It's utter garbage.
Well, you would say that, wouldn't you.....
ah but did you choose which one you would drive based on whetehr you were feeling like a psycopath?
I'm calling bullshit!
Around these parts it's twats in Land Rovers who are by far and away the biggest psychos.
Oddly enough the former Mrs Owd Big Ead drove a Range Rover Velar!
Coincidental?
Here's a fairly limited NON scientific list of INFAMOUS SERIAL KILLERS Car manufacturers, (US bias).
Ted Bunndie VW
Gary Leon Ridgway FORD
Harold Shipmen RENAULT
John Wayne Gacey OLDSMOBILE
Ed Gein FORD
Manson Family (not SERIAL killers?) FORD
Ian Brady BRITISH LEYLAND
John George Haigh ALVIS
Beltway Snipers's CHEVROLET
David Berkowitz FORD
Joel Rifkin FORD
Bonnie and Clyde FORD
Karst Roeland SUZUKI
Lonnie David Franklin Jr VOLVO
Samuel Little PONTIAC
Francis Heaulme BICYCLE/TRAIN
You can't get away with that - where's Hitler, Stalin, Mao...?
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Very good. Prehaps on the 'mass mederer' list?
Pol Pot had a Merc.
Also, didn't Hitler invade Czechoslovakia, in part, to get hold of the Skoda factory?
Yeah, but in exchange we got Fanta from that war...
Minis are the new BMW - err, hold on a minute...
Ian Brady used a BRITISH LEYLAND mini van.
And, if there is such a thing, Ian Brady is probably a psychopath.
I'll bet he's not....
Would you? Why? I'll be interested to hear your argument.
I know what Badger's argument would be!
Go on wt, were you right? 😉
Go on wt, were you right?
Yes.
Cos he's dead....
Well, no, he's dead. But he was diagnosed in 1985 as a psychopath.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/may/19/ian-brady-psychiatric-nu...
He was indeed diagnosed as a psychopath. However, there're problems with the construct.
So what is badger's argument? He was a psychopath? However, he's dead and in the context of the scientific evidence that consciousness does not transcend the 'laws' (or models) of physics, Ian Brady, therefore, can no longer be considered a psychopath?
Clever chap, CaptainBadger, certainly a cogent argument and outwitted me.
Aaaww c'mon cyc. Just joshing with with you....
I Know. It was a good one, and I found it very amusing, hence my reply. 🙂
It's also why I up voted (liked) your reply/comment, I genuinely thought it amusing, helped break up the long day...
Awww thanks Cyc. I liked yours too
The point that jumped out at me was that electric cars scored 16 i.e the highest figure metioned for any category by some margin. Should this not be the headline ?
I'd agree. I've certainly seen some absolutely crazy overtaking stunts by Tesla drivers in particular. They appear to believe that the incredible acceleration available to them makes them invulnerable ... or other drivers' concerns irrelevant.
There's an irony that Tesla owners probably pat themselves on the back for their 'green credentials' whilst actually demonstrating no empathy whatsoever for other road users.
Ditto - in my (anecdotal) experience, over the past few months I have noticed teslas jump rapidly to the top (or very near the top) of cars likely to be driven dangerously.
maybe not invulnerable but theres no doubt they do stand up well in impact crashes, unbelievably the lorry driver only got 3pts.
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/norfolk-tesla-wrecked-by-blocks-falling-fro...
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