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.
Left lane campers... Grrrr. In MN we don't have a left lane law so everyone and their grandmother uses it for their Sunday drive.
I never did 150 on dirt, the best i ever did was around 120, but not in a car that had any sort of speedometer. Trees and rocks are a lot meaner at those speeds than normal cruising speeds.
I've never been chased by a helicopter! ha would be fun, though, in my younger days.
My ex wife had a POS hyundai when they first came out. On trips to vermont, i could do a reasonable speed on flats and downhill, but up the Vermont hills, i'd be down to about 55. I hated it, because I was doing just the annoying behavior you describe.
Not only is this area full of commie/liberals but they drive too slow as well.
"Auto-Pragmatic."
Drives 60-65 in the RIGHT lane in a 70 MPH 4 lane that is NOT limited access. I enjoying not having to slam on my brakes because someone is going slower than me. 15 miles and I don't touch the brake until I hit town usually. I'm getting 7 to 10% better gas mileage than most drivers. I do not exude any smug, so I'm smug neutral. I have never ever hugged a tree, but I do hunt and fish a bit.
I usually get to work an hour or so earlier than co-workers so I avoid much of the insanity of the people that are running late, applying makeup, taking notes with a cell phone stuck to their head.
Diving mode is relaxed, but very attentive as to other cars around me. Not paranoid, but I don't trust YOU to
1) Use your signal when you change lanes
2) Not pull out in front of me
3) Use the utmost caution driving a ton or two of metal that could cause me to cease to exist if you make a wrong move
I buy cheap safe cars and think people that spend $50K on a car are insane, but whatever floats their boat is fine with me.
I don't suffer from massive vehicle insecurity. A vehicle's purpose to get from point A to point B.
Hubby...is that you?
self incriminated?
just fifty??
I agree summary executions for them as well as for people who don't know to pull out in order to turn left at a four-way-stop. Maybe just a beating for the overly courteous morons who motion you to turn left in front of them, because they don't realize that THE PERSON TURNING LEFT GOES LAST!!!!
I'm like Nascar with a horn.
I agree summary executions for them as well as for people who don't know to pull out in order to turn left at a four-way-stop. Maybe just a beating for the overly courteous morons who motion you to turn left in front of them, because they don't realize that THE PERSON TURNING LEFT GOES LAST!!!!
I'm the kind who:
a) always signals
b) lets over anyone who signals
c) refuses to let over those who do not signal
What classification is that?
The worst drivers are Illegal Aliens, and usually their contraption of conveyance has no business on the road. But hey we've granted Amnesty so just disregard that last statement.
An accountant
Nothing close to me but perhaps the Auto-Pragmatic. I don't care what my car looks like as long as it gets me from A to B in one piece. I also have little to no patience with those who insist on driving 20 mph under the speed limit - and I'm always stuck behind those morons every day to work and back home. Either drive the speed limit, or get the heck outta my way!
I never signal and swerve in front when the person I'm getting in front of tries to keep me out. I've had several wrecks this way and a couple new cars paid for by people like you. HAHA!
It's not the speed as it relates to the speed limit that should govern what lane a person drives in. It's one simple rule. If you're driving the same speed as the people in the lane to the right of you..... then get in that lane.
OK, I'm not any of those.
lol
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