Female drivers are often safer and more confident behind the wheel than their male counterparts - and this is why.
Wednesday March 8th is International Women’s Day.
It’s a time to celebrate and promote the achievements of women while also recognising the ongoing fight for gender equality, and working to raise awareness about the violence and abuse perpetrated against women.
The theme of this year’s celebration is ‘#EmbraceEquity’, and it comes with the message: “We can all truly embrace equity. It's not just something we say. It's not just something we write about. It's something we need to think about, know, value and embrace. It's what we believe in, unconditionally. Equity means creating an inclusive world.”
And as International Women’s Day events take place across the world, here at Select we thought we’d challenge some of the gender stereotypes associated with driving skills.
There’s a growing amount of research to suggest that women make for safer drivers than men.
And one of the most significant studies of recent years came in 2020, and conducted by scientists at the University of Westminster, UK.
The boffins analysed the official accident figures from police injury statistics, road traffic data, and from a government database of 14,425 road fatalities from 2005 to 2015.
Overall, women tended to be better drivers than men, causing fewer fatalities.
And the researchers even concluded that more women should be employed in road transport jobs to help make the roads a safer place.
Lead researcher Dr Rachel Aldred said: “'We suggest policy-makers consider policies to increase gender balance in occupations that substantially involve driving, given the greater likelihood that other road users will be killed if men rather than women are driving or riding.”
But what does Select’s own research suggest?
Over the years, our busy newsroom has carried-out a number of UK-wide polls to uncover the thoughts, habits and trends among British motorists.
And some of the data we’ve uncovered again suggest female drivers can be calmer, more composed, and also less likely to be involved in a crash compared with men.
In 2020 we polled 2,000 UK motorists, via OnePoll.
We found that just 20% of female motorists said they had ‘hit another vehicle while driving’, compared with 29% of men.
On the flip side, 35% of women said they'd ‘been hit by another vehicle while driving’, compared with 48% of men - suggesting that females are better at avoiding accidents, too.
Women were much less likely to get behind the wheel of a car when ‘possibly over the drink drive limit’, according to that same Select study - 11% of women compared with twice as many men, at 23%.
Female motorists were also more cautious about driving the morning after a heavy drinking session the night before - 27% of women compared with 36% of men.
.jpg)
And there are also parking scenarios where women are more confident than males - a stat that forces many stereotypes into performing a U-turn.
Around 12% of male motorists polled by Select said they were ‘uncomfortable’ parking at a supermarket, compared with just 9% of females.
When it comes to keeping calm and measured on the road, women also appear to have the advantage.
A separate Select Car Leasing study was conducted in 2018 among 1,200 UK motorists and carried out by OnePoll.
When asked about road rage incidents involving cyclists during the preceding 12 months, 5% of women said they’d had ‘an unpleasant verbal exchange or some level of abuse’, where a larger proportion of men - 9% - reported the same.
Women were also less likely to cross onto the wrong side of the road to avoid things like potholes and puddles - with 19% of females saying they’d done it in the preceding 12 months compared with 24% of men.
Yet our research also points to some of the anxieties and insecurities that still linger among female motorists - and which we all need to be aware of.
When we asked UK drivers about their fears in a 2018 poll, some 43% of women said they dreaded ‘breaking down on my own’ compared with just 15% of men saying the same thing.
Women were also more likely to get nervous around drivers tailgating too close to their rear bumper (35% of women compared with 28% of men).
And here at Select, we’ll continue to compile these important statistics.
One of our most recent studies examined the risks posed by learner drivers who have points on their provisional licence - before they’ve even passed their test.
Our Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the DVLA uncovered that males were by far the most likely to be a ‘law breaking learner driver’ - with a staggering total of 81% of provisional licences with points belonging to male motorists compared with just 19% female.
International Women’s Day supports a number of female-focused charities, and you can find out how to donate on the official website.
Enjoyed this? Read our latest news:
- The ‘Cars Gone Viral’ Index
- ‘Enhanced’ new VW ID.3 breaks cover
- Skoda Octavia Estate turns 25
- All-electric new MINI Countryman teased
-
All new Hyundai Kona launched
Where To Next?
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to our newsletter.
Looking for a great leasing deal? Check out our incredible range of special offers.
Read our latest reviews and find the right model for you.
Want to know more about leasing? Take a look at our comprehensive leasing guides.
Interested in everything motoring? Why not catch up on all the latest car leasing news.
