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Bad Driving May Have Genetic Basis

Posted by samzenpus on from the born-to-run-off-the-road dept.

Serenissima writes "Bad drivers may in part have their genes to blame, suggests a new study by UC Irvine neuroscientists. 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. 'These people make more errors from the get-go, and they forget more of what they learned after time away,' said Dr. Steven Cramer, neurology associate professor and senior author of the study published recently in the journal Cerebral Cortex."

8 of 449 comments (clear)

  1. First... define worse... by jhfry · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Some of the best drivers I know are the ones who can't obey speed limits, make illegal turns, and ultimately are deemed as "bad" drivers. However these same folks maintain superior control of their vehicles and never get into accidents unless they are caused by another driver's lack of control.

    So, perhaps this gene is more of a "disrespect for authority" gene?

    --
    Sometimes the best solution is to stop wasting time looking for an easy solution.
    1. Re:First... define worse... by blueg3 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Wow, defining the problem! I wonder if the researchers thought of such a novel concept?

      If only there was some sort of written description of the research, longer than a summary, that might shed light on if they independently came to the same conclusion that problem-definition might be worthwhile and, if so, what they defined as "better" and "worse"...

    2. Re:First... define worse... by 0xdeadbeef · · Score: 4, Interesting

      So, perhaps this gene is more of a "delusion of competence" gene?

      FTFY

    3. Re:First... define worse... by Ephemeriis · · Score: 3, Interesting

      To make an analogy, imagine that traffic laws are like government mandated school curriculum, they are designed to be of the most benefit to the majority, they are by no means designed to define driving ability.

      Bad analogy.

      Traffic laws are like the code of conduct within a classroom. They prohibit someone from sitting in the back of the classroom and screaming at the top of their lungs while pelting the other students with rotten vegetables. The screaming/pelting kid may very well learn great like that, but they're a terrible distraction to everyone else and degrade the learning experience for the rest of the classroom.

      --
      "Work is the curse of the drinking classes." -Oscar Wilde
    4. Re:First... define worse... by ahodgson · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Uh, no. Many of the rules, like speed limits, are there to limit the damage that bad drivers can do when they screw up. Some bad drivers break the rules. Some good drivers break the rules. Bad drivers get in accidents no matter if they obey the rules or not. They just kill fewer people if they happen to be driving slow at the time.

  2. Another way for insurance companies to screw us by Viol8 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Wouldn't surprise me if this does turn out to be true and not just a statistical anomaly then insurance companies will probably ask for a genetic test if they can get away with it and raise the premium if you have this genetic marker.

  3. I could see this as true by TheRealMindChild · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I could see this as true, but not for the obvious reasons. Likely, people with this "particular gene" come from the same indirect family tree. This family can have learned behavior they pass on to their offspring of "not paying attention".

    --

    "When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
  4. Different take by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Officer, it was not my bad driving, but my genes.

    If you write me a ticket, I will sue under the Americans With Disabilities Act.