SCIENTIFIC PROOF: DRIVERS HAPPIEST WHEN BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CONVERTIBLE, NEW STUDY FINDS

• Convertible driving increases happiness by up to 19%, reduces stress by up to 32%, and improves alertness by up to 15%. 
• The most aggressive drivers saw largest increase in happiness with the roof down 
• Driving in general improves a person’s overall mood (happiness, alertness and tension) versus when not driving at all 
• FIAT partnered with Professor of driving behaviour, Dr. Lisa Dorn, to understand the physiological and psychological differences and benefits of convertible driving 
• Fiat’s All Electric 500 Convertible is one of only a handful of electric convertible models available to UK car buyers and was used for the study  
• Drivers of the All Electric Fiat 500 Convertible experienced an increase in positive emotions and decrease in negative ones 

(London: Thursday 20^th July) Driving an open-top convertible can significantly improve motorists’ mood and performance compared to driving with the roof up, according to a first-of-its-kind scientific study. 

In partnership with Associate Professor of Driver Behaviour at Cranfield University and Founder of PsyDrive, Dr Lisa Dorn, the research by FIAT set out to explore whether driving with the top down affects our physical and emotional wellbeing. In summary, the results suggested that being behind the wheel of a convertible makes drivers happier, more alert and could even have health benefits over the longer term. 

The findings in detail. 

Before the tests, driving style was measured for each participant using the Driver Stress Inventory, to see if they were pre-disposed to aggression or thrill-seeking behind the wheel. 

When the roof was down, all drivers experienced a significant increase of at least 6% in ‘Hedonic Tone,’ a measure of happiness. The biggest impact was felt by the more aggressive drivers, who were recorded as experiencing a 20% uplift in their mood – more than twice the amount of their less aggressive counterparts and equivalent to the positive hedonic effects after a rigorous work-out. 

Driving with the roof down didn’t just amplify positive emotions, it also caused heart rate variability (HRV – an indication of stress) to reduce by up to a third (32%), suggesting that drivers having greater contact with their driving environment and the wind in their hair could improve their wellbeing.  

Convertible driving may also lead to safer driving, as drivers showed up to 15% increased alertness and 20% lower levels of negative emotions such as frustration or anger, which can be linked to ‘road rage.’  Positive mood (both neutral and/or happy) is associated with improved driving performance, visual attention, and faster hazard response. 

When looking at gender, men and women both saw a near equal and significant increase in Energetic Arousal with the roof down, meaning that men and women were equally alert on the road. However, females reported a stronger impact of driving in general on their energy levels. An increase in Energetic Arousal means drivers are more alert and situationally aware, making them potentially perform better on the road.  

Dr. Lisa Dorn said: “When driving with the top down in a convertible we experience greater levels of feedback from the road environment. This may be further increased in an electric vehicle, which emits much less noise and enables the driver to better take in their surroundings. In these circumstances, our data shows that this creates a sort of open-air euphoria that makes us feel physically and psychologically better, and possibly even drive more safely. 

“Mood when driving will clearly fluctuate depending on a variety of factors impacting the driver, vehicle, and road conditions. However, this study showed a significant effect that suggests, with repeated exposure, motorists could see health-related benefits of driving a convertible over time.” 

Damien Dally, FIAT UK Managing Director, said: “At FIAT, we know the joy that driving a convertible brings to motorists, particularly in the UK, which is often dubbed the convertible capital of Europe. That’s why we have always offered the 500 as a convertible, were the first to offer a four-seater electric open-top to the UK  – and why we are one of only a handful of manufacturers that offer an electric convertible to UK car buyers today. 

“Now there’s science to prove what we always thought, drivers are happier with the roof down. It’s fascinating to see what happens to our minds and our bodies when going for a spin in the open-air. Driving an All Electric Fiat 500 should be a joyous experience, and this study shows whether the roof is up or down, drivers were happier behind the wheel. It’s also interesting to see that it can benefit drivers in other ways, whether that be being more alert or calmer behind the wheel.”  

The Fiat 500 all electric convertible is the first 100% electric Fiat designed from the ground up. The car provides a raft of best-in-class features such as Level 2 Autonomous Driving technologies, a variety of battery options and an all-electric driving range of up to 199 miles (WLTP).  

 
Fiat recently launched a new E-Grant, where buyers can receive £3,000 towards an all-electric 500 model. For more information visit www.fiat.co.uk/500-electric/all-electric-500-hatchback   

ENDS 

Methodology in detail  

Fiat partnered with Dr Lisa Dorn, in a first-of-its-kind study to carry out a two-day scientifically grounded experiment with a group of UK car drivers. Twenty-three participants took part in two data collection conditions, 10 females and 13 males. They were required to drive solo in two short journeys, a roof up drive, and a roof-down drive on a pre-planned quiet rural public route. 

Participants wore chest band ECGs to measure heart rate and, before driving were asked to complete a Mood Questionnaire that included four subscales measuring: Energetic Arousal which indicates alertness (EA); Hedonic Tone which indicates happiness (HT); Tense Arousal which indicates a stressed emotional state (TA); and Anger and Frustration (AN). Participants completed the questionnaire after driving with the roof up and then again after driving with the roof down. 

Descriptive analyses described the data and then parametric analysis was performed to investigate whether there was a significant difference in mood and heart rate variability across the two conditions compared with baseline measures. Analysis also considered whether driving style as measured via the Driver Stress Inventory was associated with mood and HRV differences across the different driving conditions.