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.
What, you don't like those idiots who camp in the left lane on the interstate and refuse to move over, and then are baffled that they get flipped off a lot?
Just what we need: schizophrenic drivers on the road. More sets of mutually exclusive terms in that descriptor than I care to critique.
When my brother sees someone driving as you describe, he sings aloud, "I'm alone in the universe, nobody counts but me-ee." I started doing it, and it makes me laugh every time. Greatly reduces the annoyance of driving among the auto-morons.
"LOL! As a fellow Auto-Banner, I relate all too well. Most likely the Auto-Pilots drive mini-vans. Typically, when in front of you in the lane, will sit for 5-10 seconds before moving out on the green light. Always wonder if there is some sort of built-in delay hardwired in their brains"
VW bus and Volvo drivers are the worst!!!
I'm an Auto-Pilot, I guess. I drive as fast I feel safe (speed of traffic, mostly - speed limits are just suggestions...), and I leave lots of room between me and the next car so that I can observe the antics of the Auto-Bahners and the Auto-Nomous in relative safety.
As far as I'm concerned, an automobile is a box to get people, groceries and luggage from point A to point B in relative safety and comfort, with adequate speed.
See # 31. As an immigrant to the US [naturalized, and have been here 25 years], I plead an invincible ignorance as to George Carlin [?- and who is/was he?] and his routines. Thus I claim independent discovery.
I've had one wreck in the last 41 years, and it was my fault because I wasn't paranoid at the time.
These boobs are the worst, and I seem to be behind one almost every time I get on the freeway. Probably my #2 pet peeve, behind drivers who don't understand that "keep right except to pass" means to, you know, keep to the right. Except to pass. And then get back to the right. Regardless of your speed.
While I'm on the tangent, the third worst is drivers who blithely trap you in parking lots or on side streets waiting to turn out because they can't be bothered to use their turn signal to let you know they won't be crossing your path. In a just world, instead of running speed traps the police would follow those drivers to their destination and hold their door shut when they get there to waste 30 seconds of their time like they wasted mine.
Now that we have a police state, I set my cruise conrol to 10 MPH over the limit, put my brain on autopilot and get home without jangled nerves.
BUMP
Only if you're running on those bare feet. ;^P
Let me guess, you have a bumper sticker that says,
"I'm not speeding, I'm qualifying"
right?
Up here, we call the worst ones "Massachusetts drivers". They have a well deserved rep.
Massachusetts must not have many bad drivers left. They all moved to New Jersey.
115 mph is not a big deal on a highway. 115 mph on dirt is FUN! Call me when you've hit over 150 mph on a public road.
Interestingly, following that one rule also prevents almost any multi-vehicle crash. If one never takes action that requires another driver to do or not do something, one can never have a crash as a result of the other driver not doing (or doing) the necessary action. Another interesting point in combination with the above is that this rule can be adhered to without regards to vehicle speed.
MANIAC = anyone driving faster than I am.
IDIOT = anyone driving slower than I am.
MANIAC = anyone driving faster than I am.
IDIOT = anyone driving slower than I am.
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