Women and men aren’t so different when it comes to driving behaviours and attitudes
‘Who’s in the driving seat?’, a new study of gender differences from the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists), has found that women and men aren’t so different when it comes to driving behaviours and attitudes. Most of the men and women surveyed enjoy driving, and rate themselves to be confident, considerate and safe behind the wheel, but almost twice as many men as women claim to be very confident.
“Despite the many myths attributed to drivers of either sex, it’s clear from our survey that both have a similar approach to driving. Men and women are equally likely to admit to speeding, poor parking behaviour or losing their temper. However, almost a quarter of women say that being a passenger with their partner in the driving seat leads to them feeling less relaxed. The fact that so many women believe in the strength of driver training is encouraging. Single women are significantly more likely than single men to have a car, and while women may drive less while in a relationship, if – as is quite likely – they eventually become the primary driver, advanced driver training would help to increase their skills and confidence on the roads,” commented Neil Greig, IAM Director of Policy and Research.
Men are more likely to take responsibility for car maintenance and legal documentation of both cars in two-car households, with over half of women claiming their partner carries out routine maintenance. When going out for the day, in households where both partners drive, the man is much more likely to drive, often depriving women of the opportunity to gain and maintain driving experience and confidence. However this pattern is reversed when it comes to a night out, when the man is usually happy for the woman to drive.
“The findings are positive, and dispel a lot of previously held misconceptions, particularly about women drivers. While women are still more nervous in certain environments, such as in fast-moving traffic and bad weather, we encourage them to take the steering wheel more often, and to get as much practice as possible. Women are significantly more comfortable using their car at night, than walking or using public transport, and for this reason they should do everything they can to be as confident in their cars as possible,” Mr Greig concluded.
See also:
No comments yet
