Study Finds Bad Driving Linked to Certain Gene Variant

October 29, 2009

Researchers found that approximately 30 percent of Americans with a certain genetic variant are more likely to commit traffic violation and lapses than those people who do not have this gene, according to a study published by medical journal Cerebral Cortex.

Steven Cramer, a neurologist at the University of California Irvine, said a protein called neurotropic factor (BDNF), which is secreted in the brain every time a body performs a task, may determine if a person is more likely to be a bad driver or not.

Cramer said that his team conducted a driving test to 29 people who were asked to drive 15 laps on a course which has difficult curves.

According to the findings, 22 participants who have a certain genetic variation secrete a limited amount of BDNF. They were also found to be 30 percent worse on driving compared to the other seven who do not have this gene.

“Perhaps this is the reason why there are many bad drivers on the US highways. Imagine that about 30 percent of people have this genetic variant that predisposes them to lapse in judgment while driving”, Cramer said.

Cramer also said he wants to conduct another study that will show if drivers involved in car crashes have this genetic variant.