Personality fuels driving habits

Last week I discussed Americans’ choices of automobiles. I noted that some people’s lifestyles are reflected in the cars they drive, while other people’s cars are surprises to their acquaintances. This week my subject involves the driving habits of individuals as they relate to underlying personality traits. Try to picture them with me.


The so-called Type A personality is time-urgent, competitive and frequently under a great deal of self-imposed stress. He drives an automobile as if he is a participant in the Indy 500. His need for speed and his hurry-up attitude about getting things done affect his driving habits and can make life miserable for his passengers.

Self-righteous Sam takes it upon himself to make sure everyone follows the law, even if it makes someone else mad. On the highway he attempts to keep people from exceeding the speed limit by staying in the left-hand faster lane of traffic. Of course, by doing this he is challenging the rules himself by not following the signs that state that slower traffic should keep to the right. This same type of individual may be seen in another situation. Following a driver going slower than the speed limit, he gets on that driver’s bumper and even honks at him to try to force him to go faster.

Extroverted Ethel loves to chat and carry an intense conversation in any setting, particularly the automobile. When she gets behind the wheel with a car full of her friends, watch out. Her immersion in conversation and verbal dialogue cause her to weave around on the road as she looks back and forth at all the individuals in her car. The end result is an often dangerous driver who needs to assume the role of a passenger when other people are in the car.

Mechanical Marvin road tests his car to the dismay of other drivers he encounters. Aware of every squeak and squeal, he may look away from the windshield, place one hand on the door panel or even move his foot to a place on the floorboard to find the newest rattle. While engaged in his mechanical mania, he is a menace to other motorists.

Absent-minded. Alvin is so engrossed in problem-solving he forgets to turn off his turn signal. He can drive 50 miles or more with flashing lights.

His counterpart Alicia fails to use her turn signal, departing from a traffic lane without even using the old-fashioned hand signal. Or she may choose a left-turn lane and shoot straight ahead when the light changes.

It is the compulsive and extremely assertive driver who fails to observe his proper turn at a four-way stop sign. You have been awaiting your turn, but he pulls to a rolling stop and takes your turn. Also disconcerting and bewildering is non-assertive Emma, who waits until everyone else has moved on. She doesn’t want to push her way into anybody’s pattern.

There are all kinds of bad driving habits, many of which reveal aspects of a person’s daily behavior. Consider the driver who pulls into a diagonal parking spot an in opening his car door, slams it against your car, denting the front door panel. And the wandering driver who hasn’t asked for proper directions, but is determined to find it himself. He weaves from lane to lane, unaware he is an accident about to happen.

Taking note of driving habits and comparing these to different personality types is a fun way to pass the time while driving.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1986