So,
what's your sign? You crash here often?
By
Naomi Kim Thu Dec 14, 9:42 AM ET
TORONTO,
Dec 13 (Reuters Life!) - Never mind how careful you are behind the wheel or how
long you've been driving, the signs of the zodiac may be bigger factors behind
your ability to avoid car crashes -- or why you have too many.
According
to a study by InsuranceHotline.com, a Web site that quotes drivers on insurance
rates, astrological signs are a significant factor in predicting car accidents.
The
study, which looked at 100,000 North American drivers' records from the past six
years, puts Libras (born September 23-October 22) followed by Aquarians (January
20-February 18) as the worst offenders for tickets and accidents
Leos
(July 23-August 22) and then Geminis (May 21-June 20) were found to be the best
overall.
"I
was absolutely shocked by the results," said Lee Romanov, president of Toronto-based
InsuranceHotline.com, who also wrote the book "Car Carma" which touches
on the correlation between astrological signs and driving ability while doing
the study.
Romanov
originally wanted to have some fun by examining astrological signs as a possible
cause for the variance between insurance companies quoting high and low rates
but didn't expect to find anything interesting.
"Now,
changing postal codes is far less significant to me than drivers of certain astrological
signs," she told Reuters on Wednesday.
Even
age, another variable for determining insurance rates, is less of a consideration
to Romanov. The cutoff line for being considered a higher risk driver is 24 years
of age; 25-year-olds are considered not-high risk.
"I'd
rather get into a car with a 24-year-old Leo than a 25-year-old Aries," Romanov
said.
Leos,
described along with the study results on InsuranceHotline.com/a10.html, are "generous,
and comfortable in sharing the roadway."
Aries,
on the other hand, "have a 'me first' childlike nature that drives Aries
into trouble."
"I
wasn't believing in it before," said Romanov, "but I would think twice
before getting into a car with an Aries."