Bad driving may have genetic basis, UCI study finds

UC Irvine ^ | October 28, 2009 | Stephanie McHughen

[Pharmboy]

I wonder if this ethnically or sexually linked? Just asking...

[Pharmboy]

“But officer, my genes made me pass that stop sign...” ping

[ozark hilljilly]

Well, this certainly explains my daughter’s ability.
My husband’s side of the family are notorious bad drivers!

(Cue the Rainman quote! “I’m an excellent driver!”)

[freekitty]

LOL Of course this article is bs.

[Melchior]

Read “The Bell Curve” and you have the answer. But I’m sure you know anyway.

[chrisser]

I wonder if the same genes influence people’s career selections.

I say that because on “bank holidays”, which I like to call “bureaucrat holidays” those of us who are left on the roads at rush hour seem to be a lot more competent than those who have the day off.

[Overtaxed Patriot]

I thought it was just impatience and self-centeredness.

[aimhigh]

Oh great, now bad drivers will be covered by the ADA, exempt from laws suits and tickets.

[Pharmboy]

Bingo.

[Pharmboy]

I thought it was just impatience and self-centeredness.

Also probably influenced to some degree by genes...

[Blue Collar Christian]

No, it’s a memory thing; they keep forgetting to hang up and DRIVE!

[neverdem]

thanks, bfl

[aculeus]

Hmmm. Darwin drives some people nuts.

[nonsporting]

This may explain the “DWA” phenomenon.

[Pharmboy]

My thoughts exactly...esp. DWAW

[nonsporting]

My thoughts exactly...esp. DWAW

Of course there are many others which also have absolutely no genetic link:

DWD -- Driving While Drowsy

DWT -- DrvngWhlTxtng

DWZOo... -- Driving While Zoning Out

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Pharmboy.

[chris_bdba]

So does this mean that soon the state will test for this gene and withhold licensing from those who possess said gene?

[ThomasThomas]

People with a particular gene variant performed more than 20 percent worse on a driving test than people without it - and a follow-up test a few days later yielded similar results. About 30 percent of Americans have the variant.

But more than 30% of the people on the road are bad drivers?

[Pharmboy]

So does this mean that soon the state will test for this gene and withhold licensing from those who possess said gene?

Well, with a lot more data on other genes involved, and in mebbe twenty years the state DMV may do EXACTLY that.