Why does one car seem to attract more attention from law enforcement officials than others? Could it be unfair profiling? Maybe, but it’s mostly a matter of driver personality and the vehicle they choose.
According to a recent study by Quality Planning, a San Francisco firm that verifies policyholder information for auto insurers, drivers of stylish, more spirited-looking vehicles have a higher likelihood of being ticketed than those who drive more sedate sport-utility vehicles and minivans.
The study looked at the propensity of various vehicle makes to attract tickets, based on the number of moving violations per 100,000 miles driven. Drivers of the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class roadster were 4.04 times more likely to get a ticket than the average for drivers of all vehicles. Drivers of the Toyota Camry with Solara trim level were second, at 3.49 times more likely to be cited, followed by Scion tC drivers, at 3.43 times. Hummers came in fourth at 2.92 times more likely to get a ticket, and the Scion xB was fifth at 2.70 times.
The Buick Rainier SUV was the least likely vehicle to get a ticket, at 0.23 times the rate of the average auto.
A separate study by Quality Planning found that women were less likely than men to break speed laws; it also showed that men were more likely to violate laws designed to safeguard people and property -- for example, men are cited for reckless driving 3.41 times more than women. Vehicles with highest percentage of violations
Make
Model
Body Style
Violations*
Avg. Age
% Male
Mercedes-Benz
SL-Class
Convertible
404%
53
41%
Toyota
Camry-Solara
Coupe
349%
50
39%
Scion
tC
Coupe
343%
30
39%
Hummer
H2/H3
SUV
292%
46
73%
Scion
xB
Hatchback
270%
37
40%
Mercedes-Benz
CLS-63 AMG
Sedan
264%
46
58%
Acura
Integra
Coupe
185%
33
60%
Pontiac
Grand Prix
Sedan
182%
40
41%
Mercedes-Benz
CLK 63 AMG
Sedan
179%
47
44%
Volkswagen
GTI
Hatchback
178%
40
44%
*Vehicles with lowest percentage of violations
Make
Model
Body Style
Violations*
Avg. Age
% Male
Buick
Rainier
SUV
23%
61
71%
Mazda
Tribute
SUV
26%
36
29%
Chevrolet
C/K- 3500/2500
Pickup
26%
40
86%
Kia
Spectra
Sedan
27%
40
44%
Buick
LaCrosse
SUV
32%
65
50%
Saturn
Aura Hybrid
Sedan
37%
59
14%
Oldsmobile
Silhouette
Minivan
37%
41
50%
Chevrolet
Uplander
Minivan
38%
40
54%
Hyundai
Tucson
SUV
38%
47
40%
Pontiac
Vibe
SUV
39%
41
32%
*Vehicles with lowest percentage of violations
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