Bad driving now blamed on genes?

[TexDotCom]

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/scienc ... index.html

Snippet: "In a study published recently in the journal Cerebral Cortex, researcher Steven Cramer found that people with a certain gene variant performed more than 30 percent worse on a driving test than people without it.

The study by Cramer, a neurology professor at the University of California Irvine, might also help explain why there are so many bad drivers on U.S. highways: About 30 percent of Americans have the variant."

My first two thoughts are 1) Here we go again blaming someone/thing else in an effort to absolve ourselves of personal responsibility and 2) I wonder how long it would take for genetic testing for this variation either before getting car insurance or a DL (resulting in higher cost and/or refusal to grant license) - or - after a wreck to punish the at-fault driver...or let them off the hook cuz their genes made them crash.

Sure can see this sort of thing causing trouble for folks with the condition...or maybe letting them off easier than those without.

EDITED to change "deficiency" to "variation" in number 2)

[C-dub]

Here's another reason for pre-screening and increased insurance rates. Watch out!

Whenever someone cries that their insurance company discriminates against them I'm thinking, "Hello!" That's the whole basis of their industry.

[Drewthetexan]

I fail to see how being unable to negotiate a course as fast as one's peers necessarily predisposes one to accidents. Every collision I've been party to has been caused by a driver not paying attention, not any particular driving deficiency.

[Purplehood]

I fail to see how being unable to negotiate a course as fast as one's peers necessarily predisposes one to accidents. Every collision I've been party to has been caused by a driver not paying attention, not any particular driving deficiency.

Perhaps the argument is that there is a gene with a predisposition to not paying attention. ADD or ADHD anyone?

[C-dub]

Maybe it's got something to do with eye-hand-foot coordination or other motor skills. I know my own brother can't ride a motorcycle. It's weird. He can play drums, but can't work the clutch, throttle, brake, or shift gears without going into a ditch. This is all on a dirt bike, so no damage done in the ditch. Maybe he's got this gene. He's been in a few strange accidents.

[Dave2]

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/scienc ... index.html

Snippet: "In a study published recently in the journal Cerebral Cortex, researcher Steven Cramer found that people with a certain gene variant performed more than 30 percent worse on a driving test than people without it.

The study by Cramer, a neurology professor at the University of California Irvine, might also help explain why there are so many bad drivers on U.S. highways: About 30 percent of Americans have the variant."

I wonder if it's related to the gene that seems to prevent some people from having a rudimentary grasp of basic Newtonian physics? You know, stuff like velocity, momentum, friction, and acceleration...

[packa45]

Ok I'm going 850 feet per second in my car... I have a 1911 that shoots 45 with a muzzle velocity of 850 feet per second... If I point the gun out the window and in front of my vehicle what happens.

A. The bullet will levitate and fall over the spot where the trigger was pulled.
B. the bullet will fly past the front of my car at 1700 feet per second.
C. Who cares.
D. Why are you pointing a gun out of a moving vehicle while you are driving?
E. where did you get a car that goes 580mph and how much was it.

Modern education systems would accept all of these answers as correct because no child is to be left behind. And everyone no matter how bad of a driver has a right to drive. ( last statement should be read in a sarcastic manner)

[JeepGuy79]

I always thought bad driving had something to do with chromosomes?

[knotquiteawake]

That gene obviously comes to the fore during bad weather in Texas

Being a non-native Texan I had always attributed this to Texas pride. In that "I ain't gunna let them rain clouds tell me how I cain or cain't drive"

But as far as it being genetic I think there must be some credence to it... both my father in law and I agree our wives are terrifying to drive with.

[chasfm11]

My first two thoughts are 1) Here we go again blaming someone/thing else in an effort to absolve ourselves of personal responsibility and 2) I wonder how long it would take for genetic testing for this variation either before getting car insurance or a DL (resulting in higher cost and/or refusal to grant license) - or - after a wreck to punish the at-fault driver...or let them off the hook cuz their genes made them crash.

Sure can see this sort of thing causing trouble for folks with the condition...or maybe letting them off easier than those without.

EDITED to change "deficiency" to "variation" in number 2)

There indeed may be a gene or two involved. Some of genes mature faster than others because the bad driving gene seems to be a lot more prevalent in people under 25. The insurance industry has widely recognized this for years.
I wonder how you tell the immature gene problems from the terminal versions?

[Kythas]

There's a gene that causes people to text while they drive?

Who knew?

[jimlongley]

No surprise to me, I have always thought that bad drivers were indicative of bad breeding.

[Beiruty]

I know for sure, that many stupid people do not know that because of their genes (that is Mom and dad) they are Stupid. How do you fault a stupid kid when their stupid parents decided to reproduce!!!

[MeMelYup]

I know for sure, that many stupid people do not know that because of their genes (that is Mom and dad) they are Stupid. How do you fault a stupid kid when their stupid parents decided to reproduce!!!

That's stereotyping.