Multiple Studies Squash the Myth of the Bad Woman Driver

 Posted on August 11, 2021 in Car Crashes

For years, there have been jokes about how bad women drivers are. This idea has been bandied about for the past century, becoming the topic of many stand-up comedian routines and sit-com television shows. The truth, however, according to multiple studies, is that men appear to be the poorer drivers, responsible for many more vehicle accidents than women.

Bad Driving Behaviors

Many studies have been done that conclude that male drivers have a higher traffic accident rate than female drivers. One of the main causes for the discrepancy is that males tend to engage in bad driving behaviors, such as speeding, aggressive driving, and driving under the influence, more than women. Male drivers are also more likely not to wear a seat belt.

Statistically, when it comes to bad driving behaviors, the rate of men who engage is higher than women in just about every area:

• Reckless driving – Men are cited for reckless driving 3.4 times more than women.

• DUI – Men are cited for driving under the influence 3.09 times more than women.

• Speeding – Men are cited for speeding almost twice as much as women.

• Red lights – Men are cited for running red lights 1.53 times more than women.

• Yield – Men are cited for failure to yield 1.54 times more than women.

• Seat belts – Men are cited for failing to wear their seat belts three times more than women.

The higher number of bad driving behaviors and violations also shows up in the rate of fatal vehicle accidents. On average, more than 70 percent of all victims killed in traffic accidents are men.

Recent Study

One recent study dug deeper into researching the types of vehicle accidents and what the difference was between female and male drivers. In every category, men posed the higher risk of causing crashes:

• Cars and vans – Men are twice as likely to cause a crash than women.

• Tractor-trailers – Men are four times as likely to cause a crash than women.

• Motorcycles – Men are 10 times as likely to cause a crash than women.

Not only do statistics show that women drivers tend to be better than men drivers, but insurance rates do too. Insurance rates are usually based on the person’s driving history of accidents and violations. On average, females have lower rates than men.

Contact a Will County Personal Injury Attorney

While all of these studies may dispel the myth of bad women drivers, the truth is that any driver – male or female – can cause an accident that leaves a victim injured and facing high medical bills and loss of income while they recover. If you have been injured in a crash caused by another driver, a skilled Joliet, IL car accident attorney can help you get the financial compensation you may be entitled to under the law. Call Michael J. Lichner - Will County Personal Injury Lawyer at 815-730-1977 to schedule a free consultation and find out what your legal options may be.

Sources:

https://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/27/1/71