A  study analysing over 15,000 car insurance quotes has identified chartered surveyors and surgeons as the UK professionals most likely to be convicted of speeding or other driving offences.

Despite their professional qualifications, there is no evidence of higher driving skills.

The report implies that respected careers seem to provide and sense of entitlement beyond what is legally acceptable.

Surveying the lead

Chartered surveyors top the list, with 11.6% of surveyed drivers found guilty of speeding.

Surgeons followed closely, ranking fourth with 11.35%.

Meanwhile, according to the insurance comparison site MoneySuperMarket, other high-ranking offenders include sales directors (11.54%) and chief executives (11.28%).

The data suggests high-powered jobs may correlate with a greater tendency to speed, possibly due to time pressures or frequent travel that increases exposure to speed cameras, or perhaps just a sense of privilege.

Constructing patterns

When it comes to overall driving convictions, chartered surveyors again lead, with 12.89% holding convictions.

The construction sector is also heavily represented, with site agents (12.81%), fence erectors (12.59%), pipefitters (12.48%), and surveyors (12.39%) building up a reputation for poor driving habits.

Dissecting the figures, surgeons came in fourth place here as well, with a 12.72% conviction rate, highlighting that even lifesaving professionals are not immune to risky driving habits.

Business leaders and operations directors (12.32%) also made the list.

When it comes to mobile phone offences, Project leaders top the list (0.85%).

They are followed by Road workers (0.58%) and stonemasons (0.55%) as the professionals most likely to be convicted of using mobile phones while driving.

The nature of construction jobs, which often require long hours behind the wheel, may increase the likelihood of such offences.

Check your pulse

General Practitioners (GPs) were the most likely to have made an at-fault insurance claim, with 10.73% reporting a crash.

Medical professionals dominated this category, including optometrists (10.15%), hospital consultants (10.11%), and medical practitioners (9.67%).

Surgeons were ranked 12th with 9.34%.

Demanding work schedules and the potential for fatigue may explain the higher crash rates for those in the medical field, as they often drive between appointments and hospitals under tight time constraints.

Titles matter

These findings highlight the importance of job title accuracy in insurance quotes.

Alicia Hempsted at MoneySuperMarket, confirmed that insurers view certain professions as higher risk, which can lead to increased premiums.

“If you’re a GP or a chartered surveyor, you might pay more than someone in a lower-risk role, such as a dental or school catering assistant,” Hempsted explained.

She advised motorists to carefully consider their job description when applying for insurance, as using an alternative but accurate title perceived as less risky could lower premiums.

However, misrepresenting job details could lead to rejected claims or policy cancellations.

The study offers valuable insights for drivers looking to manage their insurance costs by understanding how their profession or professional title might influence their premiums.