Insurance Company Survey Puts Attorneys At Top of “Worst Drivers” List

If you’re a regular follower of my blogs, you know that I am a strong advocate for driving safety, particularly when it comes to avoiding distracted driving. I’ve written extensively on the dangers of driving while texting, and I’ve even highlighted stranger driving distractions–like the truck driver who caused an accident while watching porno on his laptop while driving a semi-truck. However, it seems as if the spotlight is on me now, at least that’s according to an insurance.com study that analyzed the yearly accidents people claim and the profession they listed when applying for car insurance online.

From the results of the study, the researchers found that 44% of attorneys and judges–more than any other profession–reported having been in a prior car accident when comparison-shopping for auto insurance. Financial professionals followed in close second, leading the researchers to wonder why these types of professionals had more accidents than others. One reason that corroborates everything I’ve argued about the dangers of driving distracted is that attorneys, judges, and financial professionals are all prone to lifestyles that revolve around multi-tasking such as being on the phone frequently (even while driving) or moving fast on a tight schedule. However, it is also important to note that insurance.com’s data was based on the numbers of customers requesting a quote from their website, which doesn’t exactly constitute a scientific survey. Perhaps drivers soliciting information from insurance.com are those who already have a spotty driving record who are seeking other insurance carriers because they’ve been dropped by their current insurance companies for being bad drivers.

Furthermore, the study also discovered that the third likeliest type of professional to report a prior accident were government workers–workers that aren’t as accustomed to high-pressure schedules. Similarly, dog groomers, barbers and stylists came in fourth, fifth, and sixth place, respectively. So as I’ve already argued, the study probably isn’t the most revealing, but one interesting aspect is that homemakers ranked as the least dangerous drivers by profession. Why? Most people who drive with kids in the backseat tend to take their time and drive more cautiously.