Do HUMMER drivers get more tickets? A new study thinks so...
Click above to view gallery of the Most Ticketed Vehicles
I had a yellow Chevrolet Corvette Z06 last summer. When I took it by my parents house, my dad warned me not to break the speed limit because sports cars were a big red flag for law enforcement. His logic made complete sense, but it turns out that sports cars aren't necessarily the the most likely vehicles to get tickets. That honor goes to the HUMMER H2 and H3. ISO Quality and Planning, which does studies for insurance companies, found that HUMMER drivers are four times more likely to get a ticket than the average driver. Nobody has any concrete reason for why this is, but some guesses include a misplaced sense of power or an inability to notice road signs and hazards due to an elevated driving position. Of course, it could also be that due to the brand's subconscious negative baggage, police officers are more likely to give HUMMER drivers a ticket than a warning.
Other vehicles that are more likely to be involved in a road violation include the Scion tC, xA, and xB. Those vehicles often find themselves being driven by younger drivers who typically get more tickets anyway. Surprising, though, is the fact that the Toyota Solara and Subaru Outback also made the list. Not exactly barn burners, there. Interestingly, eight out of the 10 least ticketed vehicles come from General Motors, while six of the 10 most ticketed vehicles come from Toyota. View the galleries below to see the entire lists of the most and least ticketed vehicles from the Quality and Planning study. Thanks for the tip, Droids1!
Gallery: Most Ticketed Vehicles
Gallery: Least Ticketed Vehicles
[Source: Newsday]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Serge 1:04PM (1/20/2009)
While Hummer drivers may get more tickets than most. This survey proves that I'm not paranoid in thinking that people who drive Toyotas cannot drive properly if their lives depended on it... seriously, those guy/gals just don't get it or something.
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KnightRider 1:13PM (1/20/2009)
I totally have to agree with you on this one.
Victor 1:12PM (1/20/2009)
:rollseyes: Yeah, i had two friends named Serge. One drove like crap and the other one was okay. Yeah, people named serge usually suck at driving.
Stingers 1:21PM (1/20/2009)
I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess Victor drives a Toyota...
Serge 1:25PM (1/20/2009)
@Victor
While I cannot chose my name and it has nothing to do with who I really am... a car choice is a clear definition of the persons life style / knowledge / general attitude towards driving. It seems that people who buy Toyotas don't know / care / unable to comprehend driving. That fits Toyota's cars are appliances image perfectly.
So you FAIL miserably and probably drive a Solara or it's slightly less ugly little brother, the SC430.
57huynh 1:31PM (1/20/2009)
@ Serge
Toyota was dubbed the best selling automotive brand in the U.S. in 2008. Therefore the majority of the people must like and drive Toyotas.
So when you say Toyota drivers are bad, that's like going to a bar and wondering why the hell everyone is drinking.
Don't try to make a stereotype out of the brand- blame the people who are driving it.
Jens 1:33PM (1/20/2009)
@ Serge, Victor
I also know a guy named Serge. He's a lousy driver and just not very bright in general.
So the evidence does support Victor's findings, at the very least, that people named Serge suck as drivers.
Victor 1:37PM (1/20/2009)
@Serge:
No toyota here. The failure of your argument is that over 90% of the driving population considers their vehicles as appliances, regardless of brand. Don't stereotype a brand.
Serge 1:44PM (1/20/2009)
So you two are telling me that car enthusiasts buy Toyotas and drive hard enough to get tickets in them... I didn't think so. I always see some idiot in a Toyota doing something on the road that a normal person just wouldn't be able to come up with.
People who drive cars from other brands do it too... but mostly it's people driving Toyotas. And Toyota was the best selling car in 2008, many decades in a row GM was the best selling brand...
Don't get your hopes up Vic and Jen, there are still people who can drive in this world. Those useless white and yellow lines in the road are not going anywhere.
Tim Irizarry 1:49PM (1/20/2009)
have to agree with Serge on that...that toyota drivers are pretty damn, o just this morning i almost got t-boned by a toyota driver when taking my mother to work
57huynh 2:02PM (1/20/2009)
@ Serge
When you roll up next to a Toyota, you shouldn't automatically think they're an idiot. Like I said, blame the driver, not the brand.
I'd say that people who drive sports cars are tempted to drive recklessly than people who drive an econo car.
Just because this ONE set of statistics show that Toyota is the leading ticketed brand doesn't prove anything.
Serge 2:12PM (1/20/2009)
@57huynh
I'm not blaming Toyota, but their cars do attract a certain mindset.
I don't know what you consider a sports car... but if you ever drove in Manhattan, BEWARE OF THE PRIUS!!!
geo.stewart 2:15PM (1/20/2009)
Dont assume anything. a road violation doesnt mean speeding. Subie and Audi are the confusing ones.
Hummer H2, H3- overcompensating self absorbed
Scion tC- young kids
Scion xB- young kids and old folks
Mercedes CLK63AMG- overcompensating self absorbed
Toyota Solara Coupe- late middle aged women on the phone who forget they are driving because the solara floats like a boat
Mercedes CLS63AMG- overcompensating self absorbed
Scion xA- old folks
Subaru Outback- ?
Audi A4- ?
Toyota Matrix- old folks
Serge 2:19PM (1/20/2009)
@geo.stewart
A4 - proving to the 328xi driver that they bought a better car?
Lostintime 3:48PM (1/20/2009)
I drive a Toyota Solara as my daily driver. I must say I'm not a horrible driver, as I race every month or so small time(not street race). I agree that its the driver not the car.
However, I have had my Solara for a year and got 2 speeding tickets. One for 6mph over and one for 7mph over the limit. In my cavalier I got pulled over many more times in my younger years and got 0 tickets.
Now i know it was my damn car :(
Matt 9:55PM (1/20/2009)
Toyotas are the Volvos of the 21st century.
Seems whenever there is someone doing 20 km/h under the limit and holding up the traffic, or drifting out of their lane, or parked half across the parking bay next to, or slowing down when approaching an intersection just-in-case the lights turn red, or drivng through a stop sign, it is a Camry or Prius driver.
Frank 10:07AM (1/22/2009)
Actually, I've found the worst drivers are usually behind the wheel of a Corvette. They consitently drive 5 MPH under the speed limit, blocking the road, until someone tries to get around them. Then they speed up to block them from passing and slow down again, until they are blocking the road again. The cars have enough power and handling to lead the pack at a decent pace, but I guess the weenies who drive them are afraid of running up their insurance premiums so they overcompensate. I'd have to guess these middle aged farts bought more car than they can handle and are afraid of it. I'd suggest a Volvo to them, if they are going to drive it like a slug.
Allison 12:42PM (1/22/2009)
This is the best article I've found on this subject
Top 8 traffic-ticket myths
http://www.curiousread.com/2007/09/top-8-traffic-ticket-myths.html
Be careful
Epyx 1:08PM (1/20/2009)
I definitely think there is some merit to the douche bag theory of drivers not getting warnings. I also think it is because the stick out like a sore thumb and thus become an easy target for the coppers.
Reply
Vince Marchisotto 10:01PM (1/24/2009)
Does anyone know when they quit putting turn signals on vehicles????????? Seriously! 9 out of 10 drivers in the old north state either don't have them,don't use them or ( MY CHOICE ) DON'T GIVE A DAMN!!! THIS IS PARTICULARLY ANNOYING/DANGEROUS IF U RIDE A MOTORCYCLE!!! ALSO ITS BEEN A LAW ( TURN SIGNALS REQUIRED) SINCE 1954 here, Another annoying practice is NOT TURNING ON YOUR FRIGGIN HEADLIGHTS WHEN U USE YOUR WIPERS!!! YOU GET USED TO LOOKING FOR THE VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS AND THEN BAMB!!! OUT OF NOWHERE COMES AN ASS WITH NO LIGHTS. ( ALSO A LAW FOR 10 + YEARS!) DO COPS EVER WRITE TICKETS FOR THIS???? I'VE NEVER HEARD OF ONE!!! MAYBE THEY ARE JUST TOO BUSY WRITING TICKETS FOR OTHER INFRACTIONS!!! GUYS AND GIRLS!!! PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR YOUR 2 WHEELED MOTORCYCLISTS. ( HINT MANDATORY HEADLIGHT ON!!!) THE LIFE U SAVE COULD BE MINE. DON'T HOG THE LEFT LANE, IF SOMEONE IS OVERTAKING U PULL OVER!! ( U R NOT A PACE CAR!) COURTESEY PAYS!! THANK U PEACE OUT!