Next time you’re sitting in traffic on the 405 and some jerk cuts you off don’t get mad. It might be genetic.
Or so says a recent study.
Researchers found that subjects with a particular gene variant did 20% worse on a driving test than those with a different variant.
So how many bad drivers are out there? The UC Irvine study found that about 30% of Americans have the variant they tested.
So between you, the car in front of you and the car behind you, there’s trouble.
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The driving test asked subjects to drive 15 laps on a simulator and then do the test again a week later. They found that those with the mutant gene were worse drivers across the board.
"These people make more errors from the get-go, and they forget more of what they learned after some time away,” said Dr. Steven Cramer who led the study.
The mutant gene affects memory by controlling production of a certain protein in the brain.
While the study was not originally intended to provide insight about drivers, it could be a foundation for more research about driving abilities.
Drive carefully.
