Upper Class Drivers More Likely To Drive Unethically

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Permalink Reply by David P. on July 18, 2013 at 1:22pm

There is less you can tell about the class level of a person by what they are driving than some of you seem to think. Many new BMWs (e.g. a 320i, 328i) and such are aspirational cars driven by people who are purchasing above their income for various reasons (often status-related); older luxury cars are simply relatively inexpensive used cars that cost about the same as a new econo-hatch; and so-on. When I was an engineer at Chrysler I drove about a zillion different cars and none of them said anything about me. Wealthy people who are smart with their money very often drive decidedly middle-of-the-road cars, or buy a nice car and keep ir forever.

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Permalink Reply by mike w. on July 18, 2013 at 1:35pm

Good point, although i do most of my riding in the N and NW burbs where these cars (Audi,Beamers, et al,) seem more common. Seems to me that some of these drivers are in a big effing hurry, Very Important and Entitled, or just like to show off how fast and maneuverable their fancy cars are. Young-ish drivers are the worst, males and females breaking about even in rudeness.

David P. said:

There is less you can tell about the class level of a person by what they are driving than some of you seem to think. Many new BMWs (e.g. a 320i, 328i) and such are aspirational cars driven by people who are purchasing above their income for various reasons (often status-related); older luxury cars are simply relatively inexpensive used cars that cost about the same as a new econo-hatch; and so-on. When I was an engineer at Chrysler I drove about a zillion different cars and none of them said anything about me. Wealthy people who are smart with their money very often drive decidedly middle-of-the-road cars, or buy a nice car and keep ir forever.

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Permalink Reply by El Dorado on July 18, 2013 at 4:18pm

I say the white windowless work vans are the worst. It's not their truck and they always seem to be in a hurry. IMO, taxi drivers are professional drivers and are not as bad as many folks make them out to be.

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Permalink Reply by grayn8 on July 18, 2013 at 4:19pm

Seriously true as much as I hate to admit it...Chicago rudeness also seems to go up with the heat index. Between entitlement and modern distractions,...hence ride defensively. Or make a nunchaku with the two u locks and a chain lock and go mad max thunderdome two enter one leaves. Oh wait...that would be rude.

Gotta add to this discourse the db livery in a stretch limo nearly side swiping me for a drop off for Wrigkey. Really? The cub fans are the worst drivers, walkers, etc...

Sarcasm aside, as much as I think of the class war unspoken about at times in the US, I gotta agree with Serge - unethical driving seems to be full on equal opportunity broad spectrum.

Serge Lubomudrov said:

Hmm . . . I don't know. The actual experiments with drivers not yielding on an intersection were conducted, as I understand, in California, near San Francisco. It is a bit different there. In my experience, Chicago is one of the rudest cities I've been to (that is, people here are, whether in their pedestrian, cyclist or driving roles). It seems to me, the reckless driving here is more evenly distributed among different socioeconomic statuses (or classes, if you prefer). I have been cut off by all kind of cars, just as I saw all kind of cars waiting for me to pass before making a right turn. A guy in a Porsche convertible stands out and is more memorable just because he's in a Porsche.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 18, 2013 at 10:46pm

That's consistent with my experience. While I've certainly seen plenty of reckless driving in other types of vehicles, when I see a BMW coming, I can be fairly sure that the driver will show absolutely no regard for any other road user.

Sarah D. 1-3.3 said:

"We" is me, at least.

In my experience:

#1 offending vehicle whose driver makes terrible and dangerous driving choices: BMW

#2: Lexus

#3: Mercedes

#4: Audi

etc.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 18, 2013 at 10:47pm

Exactly.

Sarah D. 1-3.3 said:

Just a reminder that this isn't just about bad driving (which spans the spectrum, I'd say), this is about making poor ethical choices while driving, like not yielding to pedestrians, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on July 19, 2013 at 1:48am

I would argue that bad driving and poor ethical driving choices are different descriptions of the same phenomena.

Sarah D. 1-3.3 said:

Just a reminder that this isn't just about bad driving (which spans the spectrum, I'd say), this is about making poor ethical choices while driving, like not yielding to pedestrians, etc.