As of last year, the Netherlands was home to some 9,000 Tesla drivers—one for roughly every 1,900 people. Nearly three-quarters of them, according to figures released by the Dutch Board of Statistics, picked up at least one speeding ticket last year, beating owners of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, or any other car brand.
In fact, an interest in green technology and a need for speed seem to go hand-in-hand for Dutch drivers more generally. Nearly two-thirds of drivers of any plug-in hybrid car had been fined once or more, compared to 28% of drivers of traditional petrol-powered cars and 46% of those in vehicles that run on diesel.
But why? Well, there are a few possible explanations. The statistics board posited a possible difference in the driving experience as the reason, suggesting it’s harder for motorists in electric vehicles to realize how fast they were traveling. (Electric cars are quieter, and don’t make the same noise on acceleration.)
But the demographics might also be a comment on what particular people can afford to spend on their driving habits. Dutch speeding tickets are among the highest in Europe, ranging from €147 ($16%) to €337 (US$380). They’re steep, but still a drop in the ocean compared with the price of the Tesla itself. Perhaps once you’ve forked out for the car, the fine suddenly seems more manageable—especially if it means making the most of your very expensive wheels.