US STUDY IDENTIFIES CHARACTER TRAITS OF HIGH-RISK DRIVERS

A study commissioned by Massachusetts-based underwriting software developer RightFind Technology has found that high-risk drivers display consistent character traits that contribute to poor driving habits. The study, conducted by First Market Research, found that poor drivers generally feel that they are entitled to behave as they do, exhibit impatience and frustration in response to daily pressures, and blame driving misfortunes on other drivers. Poor drivers participating in the study admitted to driving aggressively — speeding, weaving across lanes and cutting off other drivers — and to being distracted by passengers, music, cell phones, eating and drinking while they are driving. The study was based on interviews with focus groups drawn from 30 drivers in Massachusetts who over the last three years have had a combined 84 accidents, 49 speeding tickets and were cited for 39 other violations. RightFind intends to use the findings of the study and other quantitative research to refine underwriting-software products that it plans to start selling to motor writers in September.