Woe on Wheels: Car Models with the Rudest Drivers (2020) (2023)

Click here to view themCar models with the rudest driversReport for 2021.

The nation's rudest drivers tend to drive sporty makes and models, from cheap, fast cars to powerful luxury sedans.

Driving levels in the United States have largely returned to normal since the lockdown began in March. Unfortunately, this means rude drivers are back on the roads at full speed. These ill-behaved drivers have a seemingly unique ability to ruin the mood of an otherwise enjoyable ride in mere seconds.

Some rude drivers seem all too eager to flip the bird or honk annoyingly (and pointlessly) in bumper-to-bumper traffic. While this behavior is unpleasant and arguably inappropriate, other forms of discourteous driving are not only dangerous but also illegal. It's one thing to encounter another driver gesturing angrily, but it's quite another to find one rearing up relentlessly or speeding through an intersection just after a red light.

But how often do we pay attention to what kind of car is being driven? Do drivers of certain cars feel more entitled than others to behave rudely on the road? Insurify's data science team wanted to investigate whether certain cars attract drivers who are more likely to engage in the most egregious -- and illegal -- forms of rude behavior on the road. To identify the car models with the rudest drivers, Insurify's data science team drew on its database of over 2.5 million auto insurance claims.

insights

• How rude are America's drivers, on average?Across all car makes and models, 23.1 drivers in 1,000 have one or more subpoenas for a driving violation deemed “rude.” The average selling price of cars in the United States in 2020 is $37,851 based on Kelley Blue Book analysis.

• Rude drivers tend to prefer sporty cars.Price points differ greatly between many of the cars on this list. However, most share one trait: With the exception of the Honda Element, the cars with the rudest drivers tend to be sportier sedans than average. While the average sedan on the streets of America has about 120 horsepower, the ten cars with the rudest drivers have a combined average of 230 horsepower. Perhaps the extra horsepower makes these drivers feel dangerously demanding on the roads - conversely, the rudest drivers may seek out cars with more powerful engines.

• Notable brand preferences. Many of the nation's rudest drivers also gravitate towards sporty, luxurious brands; Acura, Audi and BMW models represent 6 of the 10 cars with the rudest drivers.

• Car models with the nicest drivers.The politest drivers tend to prefer larger cars than those favored by the rudest drivers. Nissan X-Terra, Honda Ridgeline and Land Rover Range Rover drivers have half as many rude drivers as the average.

methodology

Insurify's data science team set up a website to identify the car models with the rudest driversCompare car insurance quotes, turned to its database of over 2.5 million insurance claims.

When applying for insurance, drivers provide information such as the car they drive and their recent driving history, including previous accidents and traffic violations. Insurify's data scientists ranked the following driving violations as the most extreme forms of rude behavior on the roads:Failure to Comply with Violations(ignoring the right of way, ignoring a pedestrian),Failure to stop violations(failing to stop at a red light, school bus or stop sign),improper support,Pass where prohibited,Tailgating,street racing, Andhit and run. For each car model, Insurify's data science team calculated the proportion of drivers with one or more previous gross violations on their record. From this, they selected the 10 car models with the highest proportion of rude drivers.

MSRP and HP data for all 2020/2021 models was collected from manufacturers' websites. Data for discontinued models was collected from the Kelley Blue Book for the last year of production of the model.

The 10 car models with the rudest drivers

10. Audi A4

• Drivers accused of rude driving behavior:44,8 von 1.000

• RRP (base model; 2021):39.000 $

• Reported PS:201

The Audi A4 rounds out the ten cars with the rudest drivers. It's responsive, with great ride and handling, a powerful engine and an overall sporty feel. Perhaps this compact luxury vehicle is a little too fun to drive for those prone to overly aggressive and rude behavior on the road. Drivers of this compact sedan have a particularly bad record of being rude and dangerous towards pedestrians. In fact, summonses for not yielding the right-of-way to a pedestrian are a whopping four times higher than average for Audi A4 drivers.

9. Honda-Element

• Drivers accused of rude driving behavior:45,4 von 1.000

• RRP (basic model, used; 2011):$8.269

• Reported PS:166

Discontinued by the manufacturer in 2011, this boxy-looking Honda has gained something of an iconic status over the years. However, fans of the Honda Element may not be so pleased to note that this car tends to garner citations for rude driving. Drivers of this unique looking SUV are particularly bad at giving way to other drivers. In fact, they are twice as likely to fail to comply when compared to the average driver.

8. Hyundai Veloster

• Drivers accused of rude driving behavior:46,0 von 1.000

• RRP (base model; 2021):18.900 $

• Reported PS:201

While the Hyundai Veloster is "fun to look at and fun to drive," according to the manufacturer, this upbeat and affordable hatchback might not be the most fun to drive around. The Veloster ranks eighth nationwide for rude driving and also has the sixth highest percentage of speeding tickets. Hyundai Veloster drivers are particularly bad at giving way to other cars. The incidence rate of this gross driving offense is 2.3 times the average. It's clear that Veloster riders need to rein in their behavior on the road.

7. Acura ILX

• Drivers accused of rude driving behavior:46,4 von 1.000

• RRP (base model; 2020):25.950 $

• Reported PS:201

The Acura ILX, which ranks seventh on the list, has more than twice as many rude drivers as the average car model. The ILX may be Acura's cheapest model, but it's still advertised as having "athletic agility" and "an impressive power-to-weight ratio." Some ILX drivers seem to have been a little over-emboldened by the performance of this sporty, compact sedan and behave dangerously and recklessly towards other drivers.

6. Acura TLX

• Drivers accused of rude driving behavior:47,0 von 1.000

• RRP (base model; 2021):37.500 $

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• Reported PS:272

The TLX, the second Acura to make the rankings, ranks sixth on the list with one of the highest rates of rude drivers compared to any other car model. Bigger than the ILX, with a more powerful engine and a wider range of options and features, the Acura TLX seems to attract a similar proportion of rude drivers as its counterpart. Notably rude behaviors exhibited most frequently by TLX drivers are overtaking violations and failing to stop at stop signs, which are 81.7 and 72.1 percent more common than average, respectively.

5. Toyota Celica

• Drivers accused of rude driving behavior:47,6 von 1.000

• RRP (base model, used; 2005): 4.430 $

• Reported PS:140

The last model year of the Toyota Celica was 2005, but the car has remained in circulation ever since. When the Toyota Celica was first launched, it was marketed as a sports car, but now it's seen as a reliable and affordable first car for young drivers. Its appeal to this demographic might explain why the car is in the top 5 on this list: young drivers tend to be more reckless and aggressive at driving than their older counterparts. This, combined with the Celica's sportiness, albeit dated, may encourage younger drivers to behave dangerously and thoughtlessly towards other drivers. In fact, Toyota Celica drivers are twice as likely to have an overtaking violation under their belt.

4.Subaru WRX

• Drivers accused of rude driving behavior:49,7 von 1.000

• RRP (base model; 2020):27.495 $

• Reported PS:268

Subaru WRX drivers seem to be some of the naughtiest drivers on the road. Drivers of this compact sports sedan are not only the fourth-rudest drivers of any car model, they also have the highest proportionSpeeding ticketsand the third highest percentageself-inflicted accidents. When it comes to rude driving, Subaru WRX drivers are particularly guilty of lane and overtaking violations, which occur 2.5 to 2.3 times more frequently than the average driver. Needless to say, it seems prudent to keep a healthy distance from these notoriously badly behaved drivers.

3. Audi A5

• Drivers accused of rude driving behavior:54,3 von 1.000

• RRP (base model; 2021):45.045 $

• Reported PS:261

The Audi A5 has the third highest proportion of rude drivers compared to all other car models. While it's flashier, more expensive, and slightly larger than the Audi A4 (which ranks tenth on this list), the A5 is similarly owned by above-average drivers. In general, Audi drivers are considered some of the worst tailgaters, and while A5 drivers' rear-end rates are about average, these drivers engage in other dangerous, rude driving behaviors. Audi A5 drivers in particular are among the worst at giving way to pedestrians and respecting red lights and stop signs: these violations occur 8.8, 1.5 and 1.5 times among A5 drivers as often as the average driver. or.

2. BMW 7 Series

• Drivers accused of rude driving behavior:56,2 von 1.000

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• RRP (base model; 2021):86.800 $

• Reported PS:335

The BMW 7 Series has the second highest proportion of rude drivers compared to all other car models. Of the 7 Series, BMW claims that "there is a beast within certain beauties, waiting to be unleashed." Unfortunately, some drivers of this luxury sedan embody this imagery far too literally. BMW 7 Series drivers are significantly more likely than average to exhibit rampant behavior towards other drivers, with more than twice as many allegations of rude driving as the national average.

1. BMW 4 Series

• Drivers accused of rude driving behavior:58,9 von 1.000

• RRP (base model; 2021):45.600 $

• Reported PS:255

No other car model has a higher proportion of rude drivers than the BMW 4 Series. Like many of the cars on this list, the 4 Series fits perfectly with the cliché that flashy, sporty cars attract the rudest of drivers. Drivers of this luxury vehicle have almost 2.5 times as many incidents of rude driving as the average driver. Like Audi A5 drivers, they're also terrible at yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians and obeying stop signs and red lights. Among BMW 4 Series drivers, these three violations occur 9.7, 1.9 and 1.7 times more frequently than average, respectively.

If you have any questions or comments about this article, please contacteinblicke@insurify.com.