Study connects loud car preferences to dark personality traits

Noise from illegal car rallies and unsanctioned drag races in Ontario has led to a new police initiative to crack down on the unauthorized events.

The City of Vaughan and York Regional Police announced earlier this month that Operation Silent Night aims to stop unauthorized car rallies that “are disruptive to everyone’s quality of life and pose a significant risk to the community.”

Two local bylaws have been amended to prohibit participation in such events. The special events bylaw now carries the possibility of a $10,000 fine for those participating in, or having a motor vehicle at, an illegal street meet. The noise bylaw has also been amended to prohibit anyone from emitting, causing or permitting noise from an unauthorized car rally, with a maximum fine of $5,000.

York Regional Police chief Jim Macsween said the police fully support the amendments.

“We know how disruptive these events are to residents, creating noise disturbances, property damage and road safety hazards,” said Macsween.

Car rallies are often characterized by loud exhausts and reckless driving, taking place primarily at night.

Last year, a pilot study conducted by Julie Aitken Schermer at Western University offered some insight into the psychological profiles associated with loud, modified cars.

Sparked by her own frustrations with noisy vehicles as she walked her dogs, Schermer’s study found that a preference for loud cars was significantly predicted by male gender and higher scores on psychopathy and sadism.

The study, published in the journal Current Issues in Personality Psychology, involved 529 participants who were undergraduate business students. The study highlighted the potential relevance of the findings for campaigns aimed at curbing illegal car modifications and provided insights into the psychological profiles of individuals who are drawn to loud vehicles.