One in three male motorists picks their nose while driving.
Do Most Drivers Really Pick Their Nose Behind the Wheel?
If you've ever glanced at the driver in the next lane and caught them with a finger lodged firmly up their nostril, you're not alone. And if you've ever been that driver—well, you're definitely not alone.
Multiple surveys reveal that nose-picking while driving is shockingly common, though the exact numbers vary wildly depending on who's asking. A NetQuote survey of over 2,000 American drivers found that 66% admitted to picking their nose behind the wheel. The Zebra insurance company found a slightly lower 47%, while a Cars.com study of five major cities reported just 15%—though Houston drivers topped that list.
The Privacy Illusion
Why do so many people feel comfortable excavating their nasal cavities in traffic? Psychologists point to the "privacy illusion" of being in your car. You're surrounded by windows, visible to dozens of other drivers, but your brain treats the interior of your vehicle like your living room. The car becomes a private bubble where normal social inhibitions evaporate.
It's the same phenomenon that makes people sing terribly, have heated phone arguments, or apply full makeup at red lights. The metal and glass shell creates a false sense of invisibility, even though you're literally surrounded by witnesses.
Your Face Is Getting More Action Than You Think
A University of Nottingham study took things further by actually tracking driver behavior. Researchers found that drivers touch their faces an average of 26.4 times per hour. Even more concerning: in 42.5% of those touches, drivers made contact with mucous membranes—eyes, nose, or mouth—approximately every five minutes.
This isn't just about social embarrassment. During flu season or a pandemic, these face-touching habits turn your car into a germ highway, transferring whatever's on your steering wheel directly to the entry points for infections.
Gender Doesn't Matter—Everyone Does It
Despite popular stereotypes about gross male habits, research shows no significant differences between genders when it comes to face-touching or nose-picking while driving. Men, women, young drivers, old drivers—we're all equally guilty of treating our cars like private grooming stations.
The behavior also doesn't discriminate by age, income, or education level. Whether you're driving a luxury sedan or a beat-up sedan, the urge to dig for gold strikes us all.
Why We Can't Help Ourselves
Part of the issue is physiological. Driving involves prolonged periods of sitting still with limited movement, which can make minor physical irritations—like a crusty nostril—feel more pronounced. The vibrations of the car, air conditioning or heating drying out nasal passages, and the general boredom of highway driving all contribute to the urge.
There's also the simple fact that your hands are right there, mere inches from your face, with nothing better to do during a long straight stretch or at a stoplight. It's the perfect storm of opportunity, boredom, and perceived privacy.
So the next time you catch someone mining their nose in traffic, resist the urge to judge. Statistically speaking, you've probably done it yourself—or you will soon enough.