Posted on 03/12/2007 11:54:51 AM PDT by Smogger
Are an "Auto-Bahner" or an "Auto-Matic"? Allstate Insurance Co. sponsored a study of 2,500 automobile owners and came up with five distinct driving personalities.
If driving itself does not really excite you, but the car that you drive does, you are probably like 23 percent of those surveyed who were dubbed "Auto-Matics." Auto-Matics, while generally safe and confident drivers, also have been guilty of speeding on occasion. Auto-Matics are likely to feel that the car that they drive is "distinctly styled," "attention-getting," "trendy" and "extravagant."
The next most common driving personality, representing 21 percent of the drivers surveyed, were the "Auto-Nomous" drivers.
These drivers enjoy looking at the scenery when driving and consider themselves "rugged" and "powerful."
Auto-Nomous drivers think of themselves as "good drivers" and their car represents a place of comfort to them. Auto-Nomous personalities are also the least likely to own an economical vehicle and are the most likely to drive a pickup or sport utility vehicle.
Not surprisingly, they are also the group that is most likely to complain about fuel prices. Of these drivers, 63 percent are male. Those who drive "fast" and "aggressively" and have little patience when other drivers make mistakes fall into the category of the "Auto-Bahner" personality.
Eighty percent of the drivers who identified with this group admitted to having driven 20 miles or more over the speed limit.
Understandably, Auto-Bahners were also the most likely to have been pulled over by law enforcement officials within the past five years, with more than half of those surveyed having received moving violations.
One-third of Auto-Bahners also admitted to driving after having three or more drinks. Of all drivers surveyed, 17 percent were determined to be Auto-Bahners. Of this group, 63 percent were male.
If the word "practical" describes both the way you drive and what you drive, you are likely an "Auto-Pragmatic." Fifteen percent of those surveyed fell into this group, with a driving style they considered "safe" and "cautious."
Auto-Pragmatics prefer cars that are safe, convenient, economical, environmentally friendly and practical. Most Auto-Pragmatics took particularly good care of their vehicles - inside and out. A good percentage of this group were unemployed or retired. Women made up 69 percent of Auto-Pragmatics.
The final 15 percent of drivers surveyed were determined to have the driving personality dubbed "Auto-Pilot."
"Reliable" and "family oriented," most in this group would prefer to occupy the passenger's seat than the driver's seat. This was the least confident group behind the wheel.
Auto-Pilots rely on their cars for doing everyday chores, but do not feel that their vehicles represent who they really are. Women made up 71 percent of the Auto-Pilots.
Todd DeYoung, vice president of marketing at Allstate, explained his company is always trying to "gain a deeper understanding of the driving habits of Americans."
"The survey not only revealed the depth of Americans' opinions about driving-related issues, but it also produced unique personalities, or `Car-ma' based on actual driving actions."
Michelle Groh-Gordy is a longtime traffic school instructor and the owner of InterActive! Traffic School Online (www.trafficinteractive.com). Send questions to drivetime@dailybulletin.com or write to DriveTime c/o The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, PO Box 4000, Ontario, CA 91761. Some reader questions will be answered every other week.
I'm an auto-bahn, yet my vehicle is about as "distinctive" as you can get, and INCREDIBLY practical:
http://www.scion.com/showroom/xb/gallery/
>>I got a careless driving ticket.<<
It's a catch-all ticket when they don't know what to charge you with. It just didn't look right. ;)
I'd fight it and tell them you were being EXTREMELY careful.
Your clean record should get you a warning, worst case scenario.
So what category exists for those that like their car... and like to drive their car... and like to drive their car on the twisties?
Is that a non-existant category of driver according to All-state?
>>As an Auto-Pilot you Auto-Bahners make me sick. Next time your selfishness, arrogance, and impatience kills or maims someone, make sure it's you and not some innocent person. Thanks!!! <<
Auto-bahner for 38 years.
So far, so good...
"One more thing you rubber neckers: Go rent a crash video from the safety of your couch and stop impeding traffic!"
Good one. Hey, I like googling at a nasty car accident as much as the next guy, but I force myself to keep my eyes forward and keep my speed up. I'm sort of an Auto Bahner, too, but not really all that agressive. I'm a decent driver, and have little patience with the sizable minority of boobs who clog our roads while blundering along lost in their own little worlds.
I'll take selfish, arrogant, and impatient any day over unawareness and lack of confidence. The best drivers are all in the Auto-Bahn category, along with many bad ones, to be sure. But no one in the Auto-Pilot category is a good driver - they range from average at best to as dangerous as the worst of any other category.
No speed limits and a 90% reduction in traffic would sure save a lot of time :-p
That looks like a Barbie-mobile, that hipster Ken would be behind the wheel?
Well, I'm going to label you a thinking driver.
You know what vehicles not to get behind.
If somebody makes one idiot move they'll keep making them.
If the car is driven by a teenage girl give them at least a 10 minute head start.
A cars performance is always taken into consideration.
People on cell phones have "abandoned ship".
Calgon take me away! We are a crazy society.
Some states like Missouri do..
I grew up in NYC and live in the LA area now. As to the Asian drivers, I would say that some drive poorly because they learned late in life, or at very low speeds because of the crowding. Most of their kids don't have that problem. I would rather drive in a Chinese or Vietnamese area than a Korean one. They tend to be indecisive, and do crazy maneuvers(a four way turn in the middle of busy and active intersections), regardless of heavy, fast moving traffic. Another stunt is "I'm lost!" and they then come to a dead stop on the freeway. they are clueless. I believe them to be the worst drivers I have ever seen anywhere in the world.
"Road Warrior"
And then there is the Autoerotic..
I drove cross country any number of times by getting in front of guys in Beemers and then very slightly slow dowm. They'd shoot out ahead, and I'd pace them at a distance. I'd be far enough back to see them getting pulled over. I'd then look for another "rabbit"..I practice "stealth driving"..
I know.
My computer was freezing up and would do nothing, so I hit the post button again.
A Harley driver.
I would say teenagers are the worst, especially when they have a cell phone stuck to their ears.
I watched a girl run 4 consecutive stop signs while yacking on the phone. Thankfully it was not a major highway with heavy traffic.
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