Cars and their Drivers

Cars are often an extension of the owner's personality; it is a reflection of who he/she is.

Is it then possible to use car ownership to filter out drivers who have the propensity to drive dangerously? Are owners of heavily modified cars, or cars that have that racing image more likely to speed on the roads, accelerate and weave through traffic dangerously, or become a nuisance or menace on the roads? Do such drivers tend to be of a particular personality or temperament? Are they more impatient? Short/hot-tempered? Daredevillish? Inconsiderate?

If research can prove that a higher than proportionate number of such sports/race cars (either in terms of actual performance or the 'feel' it gives to its driver), can we then push for curbs against such vehicles? Higher insurance premiums (to make them think twice about smashing their cars) perhaps?

Of course I am not suggesting that ALL drivers who modify their cars, or drive the racing breed of cars (think Subaru WRX and Evo) are speed-sters. But logical reasoning (or is that plain ol' stereotyping, pure and simple?) will conjure a very different image when you try to visualise who would be driving a WRX and who would be driving a Toyota Camry.

Even Subaru's own advertising campaign seems to recognise that their cars reach out to a very specific segment of the market. Remember those radio ads about Ah Seng Aquarium and the killer whale? (I think the campaign is still running and it a real pain to listen to... one of the reasons why I stopped listening to Class 95!)

So, Subarus are for the Ah Seng types, or so think Subaru themselves. And if you're selling a Lexus, you won't even think about marketing to anyone close.

Now the question would be: Are Ah Sengs more likely to get into or cause a car accident?