The group analyzed traffic data on 1.7 million drivers and established the probability of a driver of a given line of vehicles being ticketed. The Hummer and Scion tC dominated the list, receiving 463% and 460% over the average, respectively. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Jaguar XJ sedan and the Chevrolet Suburban attracted a mere 11% and 16% of expected tickets. Given that both the Hummer and the Jaguar are high-cost vehicles, it flips the idea that a huge price tag automatically means more police attention.
The president of ISO Quality Planning Raj Bhat offered this theory when questioned about the Hummer's ranking on the list: "The sense of power that Hummer drivers derive from their vehicle may be directly correlated with the number of violations they incur, or perhaps Hummer drivers, by virtue of their driving position, are less likely to notice road hazards, signs, pedestrians and other drivers."
Whether Hummer drivers truly have a subconscious ownership of the road, or if it's just hard to blend into traffic when you're speeding in a 4-plus-ton rig, is grounds for another study altogether. While the surest way to avoid seeing the blue and red lights is to follow all traffic regulations and being a safe and courteous driver (thanks, mom!), it's worth considering at car-buying time that the model you're looking at carries a strong potential for drawing the attention of law enforcement. If, despite your best driving, you end up bright lights of a traffic stop, check out our tips on how to beat a speeding ticket. For more details on the ticket chart, check out the MSN roundup below, or our gearhead sibling Jalopnik's own take on the results.
(via Lifehacker)
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