It's official - women are actually better drivers than men

• A month-long study of over one and a half thousand drivers shows that women are better drivers than men
• Study tested people’s driving both first-hand on a specially designed route and anonymously on one of the UK’s busiest junctions
• Study examined all aspects of driving including speed, observational skill and response to other road users
   

After years of debate and banter comes the news that will have men running for cover - it is now official; women are actually better drivers than men.

The month-long study published today tested various aspects of people’s driving, including speed, impact on other drivers and traffic light obedience, in order to produce a ‘driving coefficient’ – a score of how good their driving was. 

In addition, drivers were also anonymously observed on one of the UK’s busiest junctions – Hyde Park Corner – and questioned about their driving beliefs and behaviours.

The ‘Privilege Driving Report’, which was carried out amongst a total of 1,633 drivers by Privilege Insurance, reveals that out of a maximum total score of 30, women have an average driving coefficient of 23.6, while the average male score was just 19.8.

In what may come as a shock to men across the country, women fared better in many areas of the scoring. This is despite the fact that, when questioned about their beliefs, only 13 per cent of men thought that women were the better drivers and less than a third (28 per cent) of women believed they were better drivers than their partners.

There are many things that drivers will have had drilled into them during their lessons, including the ‘mirror, signal, manoeuvre’ routine. However, the study showed that men were particularly bad at this with one in three (36 per cent) forgetting to check mirrors and signal before pulling off. Women on the other hand were much more vigilant, with 88 per cent following the rules.

Although women were much more conscientious at checking their mirrors and indicating, men fared better when it came to checking their blind spot, with 82 per cent looking over their shoulders compared to 71 per cent of women.

Driving too close to the car in front (tailgating) is one of the major causes of accidents and women outperformed men substantially here, with only four per cent judged to be driving too closely to the car in front, compared to one in three (27 per cent) of the men who took part in the research. This flies in the face of men’s beliefs, as nine out of ten (89 per cent) said that that they keep a safe distance.

But tailgating is just one driving antic that can cause distress to other drivers or cause them to take evasive action. The study found that, in general, women were less likely to have a negative impact on other drivers, with half of them (54 per cent) being a nuisance on the roads, compared to three quarters (73 per cent) of men.

With speed joining tailgating as a major cause of accidents, it carried a heavy weighting in the coefficient and this was an area where men and women were broadly equal. The driving tests found that 11 per cent of women and 14 per cent of men drove above the speed limit and 36 per cent of both women and men drove too fast for the situation. 

The gap widens again when it comes to approaching hazards, with half of men (46 per cent) driving too fast, compared to a quarter of women. Although their speed may infuriate male passengers, the ladies’ tendency to drive under the speed limit (39 per cent) means they are better able to react to hazards or adverse situations should they arise. 

Traffic light behaviour also showed a significant difference between the sexes. Over half (56 per cent) of men drove through an amber light when it was turning to red, compared to just 14 per cent of women. This is consistent with the views of drivers when asked about their driving behaviour and their understanding of the Highway Code. Of those surveyed, 58 per cent of men believe that it is OK to drive through an amber light, with 78 per cent admitting to doing so at least once a week, compared to ten per cent of women who say they regularly drive through amber lights. 

The Highway Code is quite specific on this, stating: “Amber means ‘Stop’ at the stop line. You may go on only if the AMBER appears after you have crossed the stop line or are so close to it that to pull up might cause an accident.”

Reassuringly, both sexes received full marks for their steering wheel etiquette, with all of the men being deemed to have adequate control of the car at all times, and 96 per cent of women. 

Using a mobile phone whilst driving divided the sexes again and men were the worst offenders, with 24 per cent admitting to either texting or talking whilst not using the hands-free at least once a week, compared to 16 per cent of women.  

Women also performed better when it came to negotiating traffic, with only one per cent being observed cutting into traffic dangerously, compared to 14 per cent of men. 

The coefficient was designed for Privilege by TV driving instructor, Neil Beeson. 

Commenting on the research, Beeson said: “I was quite surprised by the results, because in my experience men have always been the best learners and usually performed better in lessons. However, it’s possible that women have retained the information better.” 

“What the ‘Privilege Driving Report’ shows is that us men need to give our female counterparts their due when it comes to driving. The facts don’t lie!”

People’s views on their driving skills differ dramatically from their actual skills. When asked if they thought they drove at the appropriate speed for the situation, 84 per cent of men claimed they regularly did, which is in contrast to the 64 per cent that actually did.

Additionally, a very small number of men (three per cent) and women (one per cent) admitted to always cutting the corner when they drove. The reality was very different though with two thirds (68 per cent) of men and 43 per cent of women turning lazily into roads.

More men than women also admitted to not indicating if they thought that there was no-one driving behind them, and when it comes to courtesy on the roads, women have the edge too, with 39 per cent always being polite to other drivers, compared to just 28 per cent of men. 

Charlotte Fielding, head of car insurance at Privilege said: “The research has shown that there is a really big discrepancy between how men think they drive and how they actually drive. 

“Privilege’s telematics policy, DriveXpert, offers men and women alike the chance to put their money where their mouth is and prove just how good a driver they are.”

     ENDS

For more information:
Matt de Leon, Fran Langdon or Stephanie Weekes
Van Communications 020 3179 0720 / firstname.lastname@vancomms.com

Note to editors

‘In car’ research was carried out by Privilege amongst a sample of 50 drivers. 

Observation research was carried out on Hyde Park Corner amongst a sample of 200 drivers.  

‘Beliefs and actions’ research was carried out by Opinium Research on behalf of Privilege Insurance amongst 1,383 drivers between the 5th and 7th of May 2015.

Privilege

Privilege Insurance specialises in car insurance for safe drivers. It also offers home insurance and breakdown cover by phone or on-line.

Privilege general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. 

Privilege and U K Insurance Limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.   

Customers can find out more about Privilege’s products or get a quote by calling 0845 246 0515 or visiting www.privilege.co.uk