By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

Doctors, lawyers and real estate agents are among the most likely people to be involved in auto accidents. Farmers and firefighters are the least likely.

Those are the results from a new study of more than 1 million drivers nationwide.

The study, conducted by a corporation that helps insurance companies analyze risks, contradicts some of the most popular notions about driver behavior in America.

The study looked at police statistics from across the country and sought to determine which of 40 professions were most likely to be involved in accidents or receive speeding tickets.

First the predictable news: Students are at the top of each category. Of course, every parent who ever saw a son or daughter get their first driver's license knows that. Or at least has worried that it might be true.

Students scored considerably higher than any other group, especially in accidents, not surprisingly given their lack of experience and low aversion to risk.

After you get beyond that fact, however, the numbers get sort of surprising. When you come to accidents, for instance, medical doctors, attorneys, architects and real estate agents round out the top five positions.

That might help explain the old saw that once you're involved in an accident there always seems to be a lawyer or doctor hanging around.

For speeding violations, though, it's a different group of people: enlisted military personnel, manual laborers, politicians and architects rank in places 2 through 5.

Beyond the inexperience of students, how do the experts explain the differences in professions?

The long work hours of doctors, especially in the training phase of their career, may contribute to the high accident rate, according to the American Medical Association.

And although it's far from proven, lots of cell phone use among doctors, lawyers and real estate agents may also be a factor.

Although the data could theoretically help insurance companies evaluate risks of insuring various kinds of works, they're barred from doing that in Hawai'i.

State law prohibits using criteria such as a person's age, gender, credit history, marital status and presumably occupation, in determining premiums.

Reach Mike Leidemann at 525-5460 or mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Accidents and speeding violations by occupation per 1,000 drivers per year

The numbers represent the accident and speeding violation rates by per 1,000 individuals per year.

For example, on the average, every 1,000 students have 152 accidents each year.

The estimates are based on over 1,000,000 drivers tracked over a 22 month period.

Accident and speeding violation data as reported by state departments of motor vehicles to insurance companies. Drivers from throughout the United States.

© Quality Planning Corporation 2003