It’s hard to know where the belief comes from that women are terrible drivers. But, the truth is that even the media have always jumped on the opportunity to make fun out of us.
A favorite TV show, the Jetsons, poked fun out of women behind the steering wheel in the episode entitled “Jane’s Driving Lesson”, depicting female drivers in the year 2063. Yet, the Jetsons was not the first to reheat and use the same old joke about female drivers. The comment only serves to perpetuate an unfair, unfound, and completely sexist rhetoric. Those terrible jokes exist only to serve one purpose: They were trying to keep women in their place at a time when they were still expected to stay in the kitchen. It’s been too long now, and it’s time the media stopped showing inexperienced and dangerous female drivers. Driving is not and will never be a male-only activity.
Women are safer drivers
We owe the evidence to British researchers who have studied a database of over 14,000 road fatalities between 2005 and 2015. They calculated the number of individual deaths connected with the drivers of vehicles (including cars, trucks, bicycles, etc.). The study revealed that larger vehicles are associated with the highest number of fatalities on the road. But the research also revealed that male drivers had a higher rate of fatal collision oper mile driven:
- Twice the rate for car and van drivers
- four times the rate for truck drivers
- 12 times the rate for motorcycle drivers
In other words, the next time you hear negative comments about female drivers, you can safely answer that the public opinion is unfounded. According to studied evidence, women are safer behind the steering wheel.
Women can face more discrimination
Unfortunately, it’s hard to get rid of social cliches, even if they are unfounded. Therefore, if you find yourself involved in a traffic accident, you might find that people will be more likely to blame you if the other party is a male driver. Even if you have been injured in the accident, as a female driver, you may receive less compensation. Therefore, it is essential to seek the protection of a group of personal injury lawyers who have your best interest at heart.
Discrimination, unfortunately, is often the result of biased opinions that most people don’t consciously realize they have. Working with legal advisors can ensure you’ve got someone fighting for your rights.
Additionally, in a male-dominated environment, your situation could be judged less “important” or “urgent”. This could lead to delays with the car insurance settlement, for example. The presence of lawyers could act as a proper motivation for people to handle your case quickly and effectively.
Women tend to choose more practical vehicles
Not that we don’t enjoy a fast car. But most women tend to consider how the choice of vehicle can affect their family life. Therefore, female drivers are more likely to opt for SUV models, which combine the best of both worlds: They are fast enough on the road but also highly functional.
Small SUVs are stylish vehicles with still plenty of room for your family. In comparison, male drivers prefer larger SUVs, pickups, and luxury models. The most commonly bought vehicle by men is the Porsche 911, showing that speed is often the first choice criterion for too many male drivers. While it is unfair to generalize, the date doesn’t lie. It makes sense why accident fatalities are more frequent with men drivers when you compare the top speed of a Porsche 911 vs. the top speed of the Volva S40 — the most popular vehicle bought by women.
Women are less likely to experience road rage
Road rage is sexist in more ways than we realize. Road rage can affect any driver. It can often be the result of underlying psychological conditions or disorders. Someone could lose control at the steering wheel after feeling threatened in another area of their life. For instance, someone who has had a bad day at the office can be more susceptible to experiencing road rage. While it isn’t a male-only issue, women tend to be more successful in controlling or defusing their anger before it turns into road rage.
On the other hand, men who experience road rage are more likely to pick on a “weaker” victim on the road. Indeed, women are disproportionally targeted by male drivers in a road rage incident, according to another British research.
In conclusion, it’s time for society to wake up. Women are not the worse drivers on the road. On the contrary, they tend to choose functional vehicles rather than fast cars. They are less involved in fatality accidents and less likely to engage in road rage. When will the unfair discrimination against female drivers end?
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