The idea is not a myth: the most recent data prove that this well -installed reputation is still relevant.
An exceeding deemed too tight, a car stuck to the bumper, a driver who changes tracks without warning. In these stories, a detail often comes back: the vehicle brand. But what was anecdote so far is now supported by a quantified survey. And its conclusions are not likely to rehabilitate the image of certain motorists.
For several days, researchers observed the behavior of almost 1,500 cars out of six large crossroads. No question of judging the speed or occupation of the lines, they focused on an apparently banal gesture: the use of the indicator. This small orange signal, supposed to indicate a maneuver, is part of the basics of learning the highway code. However, his forgetfulness remains frequent, to the point of becoming a marker revealing casualness. A driver who does not report his intentions is a driver who puts in difficulty those who follow him, obliges to unexpected brakes and increases the risk of hanging. It is this specific behavior that the Discovercars.com platform chose to quantify, to see if certain brands were distinguished more than others.
In the sample studied, some brands display very low breach of failure, around 6 or 7 %, which remains relatively tolerable in the flow of traffic. But others quickly climb above 12, 14, or even 15 %. And this is where the study becomes interesting: the observed hierarchy corresponds in part to the photos that have been circulating for a long time. German luxury models appear at the top of the table, with high proportions of forgetful drivers. Mercedes and Audi compete for the second and fourth place, followed by Renault which completes the podium. At the other end, Honda, Toyota or Peugeot show that one can remain disciplined behind a steering wheel, with drivers who almost never say to report their changes of direction. And do you know which brand is which, according to the study, occupies the very first place? This is BMW.
According to Aleksandrs Buraks, a specialist interviewed by Discovercars.com, the explanation is not only mechanical. For him, the status associated with certain vehicles plays a role in the attitude of drivers, who sometimes feel above courtesy rules. With almost one in five drivers surprised neglecting her turn signal, she widens the gap with all the others. A manufacturer who, accused for years of sheltering the most aggressive and distracted motorists, is once again confirmed in reputation.
