Which sex is the better driver…of cars?

/AzerNews/

By Mushvig Mediyev

Who is the best driver: man or woman? The question can be a little bit strange as one will suggest why gender is so important for a driver. But there is a very interesting statistics which claims women to be more careful behind the wheel than men. Don't get surprised, this is a fact.

Men get a ticket for reckless driving by 3.4 times more than women, while women get punished for drunk driving 3.1 times less than men, according to a study by Quality Planning, a research firm that works for insurance companies. The company claimed that women are on average less aggressive and more law-abiding drivers and this is evident in fewer accidents by them.

But who - men or women - are the frequent perpetrators of road accidents?

Studies reveal that men are more risky while driving. They display less cautious behavior than women, since driving at high speed leaving lower distances from other cars, ignoring to wear seat belts and driving while drunk are among the main common picture for male drivers. Men’s risky maneuvers on the streets come despite numerous legal warnings and notifications.

Psychologist Ibrahim Ibrahimov said in his interview with AzerNews that women cause less road accidents due to their careful nature and less aggressive manner.

"Men are more aggressive on the roads, being inclined to speedy driving and overtaking. These are mainly linked with their androgenic hormones. But women avoid such behavior while driving, because they are peaceful creatures. Despite the saying that: "More mirrors in the car mean more women negligence", female drivers are more attentive than their male counterparts. They prefer to steer calmly and attentively. Maternal instinct also plays a significant role in this issue - women think more of their children than men," he noted.

Azerbaijani police said that men cause more road collisions in Baku due to driving at high speed on the roads. But it doesn't exclude the vehicle accidents caused by women drivers, according to the police.

But women are more indecisive on the road than men, according to Ibrahimov.

"That's why females prefer to drive their car at lower speed, avoiding any risky maneuvers. Women are timid behind the wheel. They are frightened easily by nature," he said.

Touching upon the increasing number of the female drivers, Ibrahimov noted that the "traditional envy of women" is one of the driving factors here.

"Women always try to keep pace with men almost in every field, including driving, in other words they want to prove that they are able to do what men do. In Azerbaijan, the increasing number of motorists among women is a need to feel comfortable. In another word, women want to be far away from annoying circumstances on the streets and personal car is the best tool to avoid unpleasant situations," he added.

The latest statistical report revealed that the total number of men drivers in Azerbaijan is over 1.5 million, while there are only 45,000 women drivers in the country.

The U.S.-based Freedom of Information Center claimed that men are more proficient in parking operations than women, as women motorists cause twice as many reverse parking errors compared to their male counterparts.

While male drivers now account for more overall accidents than women, technology may shift the trend. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a Washington-based non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through traffic safety research and education, surveyed that teenage girls are engaged in texting or talking while driving twice more than teenage boys.

Gender rivalry remains a fact of mankind, but all drivers must obey the traffic rules, preventing from any life-threatening actions. Many enjoy driving, but one should feel responsible for the lives of himself/herself and others. So, never forget to wear the seat belt, drive at low speed, and turn down aggressive behavior and make them unequivocal rules behind the wheel, as high speed shortens your life rather the distance.