History Main / AsianDrivers

* In one episode of "WesternAnimation/{{Braceface}}", Sharon's grandfather believes that Maria (who is half-Chinese) will be a bad driver when she is old enough to drive. He believes this only because her parents (whom he has never met) must be bad drivers, because they are Asian and will teach Maria how to drive.
* [[AsianRudeness Di]] [[InsufferableGenius Lung]] [[NouveauRiche from]] ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'', especially in his first appearance from the episode "Hothead"; in said episode, he parks his [[CoolCar red vintage hot rod]] all the way across an open road and nearly causes Eustace to crash his truck into said car in the process...before then ''incredibly''-[[HypocriticalHumor hypocritically]] [[RunningGag yelling]] "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, [[YouFool YA FOOL]]" at Eustace while still having his car parked all the way across said road. Needless to say, Eustace is clearly '''not''' amused by this]] (in fact, he even [[StuffBlowingUp blows Di Lung's car up]] [[PsychicPowers with his mind]] as [[LaserGuidedKarma punishment]] for Di Lung's arrogance). Surely enough, Di Lung [[AesopAmnesia does not learn]] ''[[AesopAmnesia anything]]'' [[AesopAmnesia from said incident]].

* In one episode of Braceface, Sharon's grandfather believes that Maria (who is half-Chinese) will be a bad driver when she is old enough to drive. He believes this only because her parents (whom he has never met) must be bad drivers, because they are Asian and will teach Maria how to drive.

Interestingly Muslim Asian drivers living in Western countries (mostly Muslims of West Asian and South Asian ethnicities) are usually stereotyped as being reliable Taxi Drivers or Delivery Drivers (sometimes Bus Drivers, in HIMYM Ranjit Singhs case a Limo Driver and in Rolf in Army of Thieves is the Get-Away Driver) typically as employers would see their lack of alcohol consumption makes them reliable driving employees.

* One Asian comedian poked holes in this stereotype. "You think we can't drive? We make the best cars. You don't think we can drive them?!"

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* ''Film/{{Crash}}'', for all its racial-awareness apparently couldn't resist a terrible Asian driver with an horrible accent to cause said car accident.
* Among his other stereotypical Asian characteristics, Long Duk Dong wrecks his American family's host car in ''Film/SixteenCandles''.[[note]]Although he was probably drunk at the time[[/note]]
* Averted in ''Film/TheGreenHornetSerials'' with Kato, who has no problems driving the Black Beauty over 200 [=MPH=] on city roads that were definitely ''not'' built for speeds anywhere near that high.
* In ''Film/ThePinkPanther2'': When Clouseau makes an inappropriate remark to his Japanese colleague, he is asked by his manners teacher about whether or not he's prejudiced towards Asians. He says he isn't, except when it comes to them driving.

* The ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook'' sketch where David Mitchell receives a [[BrownNote green clarinet that makes you tell embarrassing truths in verse]] has him retaliate against a woman who cuts in front of him in the supermarket checkout line by forcing her to confess:
-->"I secretly harbour racist views, racist views, racist views / I secretly harbour racist views / I don't think Asians drive well."[[note]]in Britain, the immediate association of the word "Asian" is with Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, et c. And yes, the prejudice applies here - see "Discussion". "Asians", in the American sense, are differentiated as Chinese, Japanese, et c. We have no fixed opinions on Far Eastern or oriental people - we just don't think ''our'' Asians, ie Indian or Pakistani people, can drive well. [[/note]]

* In the Creator/ComedyCentral Roast of Creator/WilliamShatner, Shatner at one point jokes about how brave a program ''Franchise/StarTrek'' was. For God's sake, they let an Asian guy[[note]]Sulu[[/note]] drive!
** Shatner repeated the gag in the Roast of Creator/CharlieSheen explaining that he understood why Charlie was acting so crazy was because Shatner's generation made it more difficult for Sheen's to do edgy things because they were now passe. He cites his famous kiss with Creator/NichelleNichols along with "Let the Asian man drive" as examples of edgy things done in his time that are just not so in the new millennium.
* In one episode of ''Series/ModernFamily'', Lily's Asian pediatrician complains that her mother expected her to get married and be a mommy instead of having a career. She says "The only way she'll be happy is if I'm some Asian stereotype, but that just isn't me." [[HypocriticalHumor Then she drives off, hitting Mitchel and Cameron's garbage pail and a car parked across the street]].
** In a later episode, Lilly hurts herself when she drives her toy car into the wall. "Please do not blame me, " Cam says. "We always knew there was a strong possibility that she'd be a terrible driver."
* Referenced on the ''Series/{{Community}}'' episode "Romantic Expressionism". Pierce is among the people [[MSTing wisecracking]] on a bad movie. He says the director "can't drive" due to being Asian. Senor Chang is present and [[DudeNotFunny not amused.]]

* British sketch show ''Series/NotTheNineOClockNews'' parodied what was then a commercial for FIAT cars with ''Designed By Computer.'' (shots of car in outline desgn rotating on computer screen) ''Built by Robots'' (Shots of cars on assembly line being tooled by long sophisticated robotic arm). ''But driven by Italians'' (Shots of rush-hour traffic in Rome and attendant motoring mayhem.)
* Almost at least one shows up per season in the aptly titled ''Series/CanadasWorstDriver''.
* In the pilot for ''Series/TwentyOneJumpStreet'', Doug teases that Ioki should not be allowed to drive any nice/expensive car. Ioki responds with "Hey! It's genetic."

* Whenever Asian-American comedian Elliot Chang passes by a car accident, he says "[[StopBeingStereotypical Please don't be Asian, please don't be Asian]]."

* Carlos Mencia wonders what happens to some of the smartest, hardest-working people in the world behind the wheel (Asians, naturally). He then switches into AsianSpeekeeEngrish to act out an Asian person being confused by the pedals.
* Creator/AliWong mixes this with WomenDrivers when she calls out the people who see her trying to park and help her out as "so helpful and racist at the same time."
-->"Fuck you! For assuming correctly about me! I could not have done this without you!"

* ''WebVideo/EatYourKimchi'' frequently refer to the bad driving that they encounter. In the Halloween episode they refer to an approaching vehicle as a "murder car".

* Referenced in Joel of WebVideo/{{Vinesauce}}'s playthrough of ''VideoGame/RollerCoasterTycoon 2''. While setting up a bumper cars ride in his park, he notices that one of the music options is titled "Oriental", which sounds like stereotypical Asian music. He then proceeds to name the ride "The Asian Driver Experience".

* [[AsianRudeness Di]] [[InsufferableGenius Lung]] [[NouveauRiche from]] ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'', especially in his first appearance from the episode "Hothead"; in said episode, he parks his [[CoolCar red vintage hot rod]] all the way across an open road and nearly causes Eustace to crash his truck into said car in the process...before then ''incredibly''-[[HypocriticalHumor hypocritically]] [[RunningGag yelling]] "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, [[YouFool YA FOOL]]" at Eustace while still having his car parked all the way across said road. Needless to say, Eustace is clearly '''not''' amused by this]] (in fact, he even [[StuffBlowingUp blows Di Lung's car up]] [[PsychicPowers with his mind]] as [[LaserGuidedKarma punishment]] for Di Lung's arrogance). Surely enough, Di Lung [[AesopAmnesia does not learn]] ''[[AesopAmnesia anything]]'' [[AesopAmnesia from said incident]].
* One ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' has Hank go to a "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Def Def]]-ensive Driving" course in search of a driving course without any gimmicks, only to discover that it is a Live At The Apollo-esque stand-up class. The "instructor" states that one of the most heinous mistakes he sees on the road is "DWO: Driving While Oriental".
-->'''Kahn:''' Ooh, cheap shot.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'', Stan and Roger were dropping Steve at school when a car crashed into them. Roger yells "Watch where you're going, Asian!".

* [[AsianRudeness Di]] [[InsufferableGenius Lung]] [[NouveauRiche from]] ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'', especially in his first appearance from the episode "Hothead"; in said episode, he parks his [[CoolCar red vintage hot rod]] all the way across an open road and nearly causes Eustace to crash his truck into said car in the process...before then ''incredibly''-[[HypocriticalHumor hypocritically]] [[RunningGag yelling]] "[[CatchPhrase WATCH WHERE YOU'RE]] ''[[CatchPhrase GOING]]'', [[YouFool YA]] '''''[[YouFool FOOL]]'''''" at Eustace while still having his car parked all the way across said road. Needless to say, Eustace is clearly '''not''' amused by this]] (in fact, he even [[StuffBlowingUp blows Di Lung's car up]] [[PsychicPowers with his mind]] as [[LaserGuidedKarma punishment]] for Di Lung's arrogance). Surely enough, Di Lung [[AesopAmnesia does not learn]] ''[[AesopAmnesia anything]]'' [[AesopAmnesia from said incident]].

[[UnfortunateImplications The stereotype that Far East Asians are bad drivers.]] If it is to be believed, Asians simultaneously drive too fast ''and'' too slow, supposedly (at least for East Asians) due to their eyes not being wide enough to see all of the road.

Interestingly Muslim Asian drivers living in Western countries (mostly Muslims of West Asian and South Asian ethnicities) are usually stereotyped as being Taxi Drivers (sometimes other types of drivers like Bus, Limo, Get-Away), typically as employers would see their lack of alcohol consumption makes them reliable driving employees.

[[UnfortunateImplications The stereotype that Asians are bad drivers.]] If it is to be believed, Asians simultaneously drive too fast ''and'' too slow, supposedly (at least for East Asians) due to their eyes not being wide enough to see all of the road.

In RealLife, this may have something to do with lax traffic laws in Asian countries and the fact that widespread automobile ownership in Asia is a new phenomenon for millions of people whose parents could only dream of driving a car. The result is that many of the defensive driving training and techniques developed and stressed in the West have not yet been as widely adapted in Asia. Finally, probably as a result of the workaholism encouraged by many Asian cultures, they are generally in a hurry. Also, China and India particularly are very heavily populated, which could lead to traffic jams and accidents. Interestingly Asian drivers living in Western countries (mostly Muslims of West Asians and South Asians) are usually stereotyped as being Taxi Drivers (sometimes other types of drivers like Bus, Limo, Get-Away), typically as employers would see their lack of alcohol consumption makes them reliable driving employees.

In RealLife, this may have something to do with lax traffic laws in Asian countries and the fact that widespread automobile ownership in Asia is a new phenomenon for millions of people whose parents could only dream of driving a car. The result is that many of the defensive driving training and techniques developed and stressed in the West have not yet been as widely adapted in Asia. Finally, probably as a result of the workaholism encouraged by many Asian cultures, they are generally in a hurry. Also, China and India particularly are very heavily populated, which could lead to traffic jams and accidents.

* One gag in ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLuaPZWkvZ0 depicts]] an Asian [[WomenDrivers woman]] cutting across to the other side of the highway without signaling, causing many cars to crash into each other. Provides the page quote.

In fact, [[https://augustafreepress.com/news/myth-busting-the-bad-asian-driver-myth-car-insurance-rates-dont-lie/ a 2018 study]] actually shows that Asian drivers are statistically safer, better drivers and therefore get lower auto insurance rates.

[[UnfortunateImplications The stereotype that Asians are bad drivers.]] If it is to be believed, Asians simultaneously drive too fast ''and'' too slow, supposedly due to their eyes not being wide enough to see all of the road.

In RealLife, this may have something to do with lax traffic laws in Asian countries and the fact that widespread automobile ownership in Asia is a new phenomenon for millions of people whose parents could only dream of driving a car. The result is that many of the defensive driving training and techniques developed and stressed in the West have not yet been as widely adapted in Asia. Finally, probably as a result of the workaholism encouraged by many Asian cultures, they are generally in a hurry. Also, China particularly is very heavily populated, which could lead to traffic jams and accidents.

In fact, [[http://www.4autoinsurancequote.com/blog/asians-safer-drivers-better-car-insurance-rates/ a recent study by 4AutoInsuranceQuote.com]] actually shows that Asian drivers are statistically safer, better drivers and therefore get lower auto insurance rates.

-->"I secretly harbor racist views, racist views, racist views / I secretly harbor racist views / I don't think Asians drive well."[[note]]in Britain, the immediate association of the word "Asian" is with Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, et c. And yes, the prejudice applies here - see "Discussion". "Asians", in the American sense, are differentiated as Chinese, Japanese, et c. We have no fixed opinions on Far Eastern or oriental people - we just don't think ''our'' Asians, ie Indian or Pakistani people, can drive well. [[/note]]

* ''Series/MadTV1991'': initially averted, then subverted in an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkCSbIJO3EQ "Average Asian" skit]]. Of course, the subversion was caused by his AsideGlance caused by the passengers' paranoia.

* ''Series/{{MADtv}}'': initially averted, then subverted in an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkCSbIJO3EQ "Average Asian" skit]].
** Of course, the subversion was caused by his AsideGlance caused by the passengers' paranoia.

-->"Fuck you! I could not have done this without you!"

* A reverse example where Italy from ''Webcomic/sHetaliaAxisPower'' [[DrivesLikeCrazy drives so crazily]] that Japan makes a safer car just so he never has to endure that experience again. Of course, this ''drives'' right into another stereotype: that of Italians being ridiculously unsafe drivers.

* A reverse example where Italy from ''Manga/AxisPowersHetalia'' [[DrivesLikeCrazy drives so crazily]] that Japan makes a safer car just so he never has to endure that experience again. Of course, this ''drives'' right into another stereotype: that of Italians being ridiculously unsafe drivers.

* [[AsianRudeness Di]] [[InsufferableGenius Lung]] [[NouveauRiche from]] ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'', especially in his first appearance from the episode "Hothead"; in said episode, he parks his [[CoolCar red vintage hot rod]] all the way across an open road and nearly causes Eustace to crash his truck into said car in the process...before then ''incredibly''-[[HypocriticalHumor hypocritically]] [[RunningGag yelling]] "[[CatchPhrase WATCH WHERE YOU'RE]] ''[[CatchPhrase GOING]]'', [[YouFool YA]] '''''[[YouFool FOOL]]'''''" at Eustace while still having his car parked all the way across said road. Needless to say, Eustace [[UnderStatement is clearly]] '''[[UnderStatement not]]''' [[UnderStatement amused by this]] (in fact, he even [[StuffBlowingUp blows Di Lung's car up]] [[PsychicPowers with his mind]] as [[LaserGuidedKarma punishment]] for Di Lung's arrogance). Surely enough, Di Lung [[AesopAmnesia does not learn]] ''[[AesopAmnesia anything]]'' [[AesopAmnesia from said incident]].

* [[AsianRudeness Di]] [[InsufferableGenius Lung]] [[NouveauRiche from]] ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'', most notably in his first appearance from the episode "Hothead"; in said appearance, he parks his [[CoolCar red vintage hot rod]] all the way across an open road and nearly causes Eustace to crash his truck into said car in the process...before then ''incredibly''-[[HypocriticalHumor hypocritically]] [[RunningGag yelling]] "[[CatchPhrase WATCH WHERE YOU'RE]] ''[[CatchPhrase GOING]]'', [[YouFool YA]] '''''[[YouFool FOOL]]'''''" at Eustace while still having his car parked all the way across said road. Needless to say, Eustace [[UnderStatement is clearly]] '''[[UnderStatement not]]''' [[UnderStatement amused by this]] (in fact, he even [[StuffBlowingUp blows Di Lung's car up]] [[PsychicPowers with his mind]] as [[LaserGuidedKarma punishment]] for Di Lung's arrogance). Surely enough, Di Lung [[AesopAmnesia does not learn]] ''[[AesopAmnesia anything]]'' [[AesopAmnesia from said incident]].

* [[AsianRudeness Di]] [[InsufferableGenius Lung]] [[NouveauRiche from]] ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'', most notably in his first appearance from the episode "Hothead"; in said appearance, he parks his [[CoolCar red vintage hot rod]] all the way across an open road and nearly causes Eustace to crash his truck into said car in the process...before then ''incredibly''-[[HypocriticalHumor hypocritically]] [[RunningGag yelling]] "[[CatchPhrase WATCH WHERE YOU'RE]] ''[[CatchPhrase GOING]]'', [[YouFool YA]] '''''[[YouFool FOOL]]''''' at Eustace while still having his car parked all the way across said road. Needless to say, Eustace [[UnderStatement is clearly]] '''[[UnderStatement not]]''' [[UnderStatement amused by this]] (in fact, he even [[StuffBlowingUp blows Di Lung's car up]] [[PsychicPowers with his mind]] as [[LaserGuidedKarma punishment]] for Di Lung's arrogance). Surely enough, Di Lung [[AesopAmnesia does not learn]] ''[[AesopAmnesia anything]]'' [[AesopAmnesia from said incident]].