April 22, 2008

Academics at Manchester University have found evidence that they claim links the driving of young men with the posing of cavemen. 

The report, published by Esure car insurance, suggests that our brains have evolved very little from that of the stone age man, and as such young men have a natural tendency to aggressive, risk-taking behaviour.  This sort of behaviour helped our genes survive until today and is clearly still present.  It makes young men in particular, prone to risk taking, which contributes to their disproportionate level of accidents and driving convictions

The report’s author, Professor Geoffrey Beattie of Manchester University said: “Much of the circuitry of the human brain evolved to meet the requirements of societies and cultures very different from our own, those of the hunter gatherer that existed for over 99% of our evolution as a species. Our 21st century skulls contain essentially ‘stone-age’ brains, and this can help to explain the differences between the sexes in terms of their risk-proneness while driving.”

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure Car Insurance, said: “There has been very little broad thinking about why young men suffer so much worse accident and conviction rates on British roads. This report makes a very clear point – it is not just about skills or enforcement, it’s about teaching young men in particular to overcome natural instincts that have evolved to enjoy speed, danger, risk taking and showing off.  It was fine for cavemen but not for the modern car driver.

This could be cited as evidence that slower, more considerate drivers, are more evolved than their contemporary boy racers.  Just try finding a boy racer that understands, or cares…

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