When it comes to speeding tickets, psychiatrists are the lead foots, rather than obstetricians or surgeons rushing to a medical emergency, according to US researchers.

The team, led by Harvard Medical School in Boston, found psychiatrists had the highest rate (31% of all psychiatrists booked) of extreme speeding, categorised as more than 32km/h over the speed limit.

“Psychiatrists who were ticketed were statistically more likely to drive at extreme speeds, a behaviour that based on prior research cannot be explained by wanting to get to the golf course in a hurry,” they wrote in the BMJ.

Their study on speeding fines and driver behaviour among doctors also revealed cardiologists drive the flashiest wheels (41% of all cardiologists) while GPs are the least likely speciality to be in a luxury car when booked (20%).