Women are perceived as safer drivers than men, according to a study from MetLife. Slightly more than 50 percent of women believed they were safer drivers than men, and less than a quarter were unsure. By comparison, fewer than 40 percent of men believed they were better drivers than women, and 35 percent indicated they did not know which gender is safer.
On the other hand, men showed greater familiarity with automotive safety technologies, such as electronic stability control, which helps improve steering and prevent accidents. Men were almost three times as likely to know the basics of the technology, and almost twice as many recognized its safety benefits but does this provide men with lower auto insurance quotes?
They generally agreed on the importance of technological safety innovations. About 80 percent of men and women each stated they would pay extra for upgraded safety features. More than half of respondents in each gender stated a desire for GPS, forward collision warning and rear-view cameras to be installed.
Based on Fact
These opinions may be based in fact. Research by analytics company Quality Planning found men are responsible for 5 percent more traffic code violations that result in accidents than women. Male drivers are more than three times more likely to drive recklessly, under the influence or without using a seatbelt.
While the margin was narrower, men were also more than 50 percent more likely than women to speed, fail to yield or ignore stop signs and signals. Drivers older than 60 years of age crashed at similar rates regardless of gender, calculated by number of crash involvements and distance traveled.
Behavior Variations
On the other hand, a study by the Insurance Information Institute found the number of female deaths in crashes rose 14 percent from 1975 to 2003, compared to a decrease of more than 10 percent for men. Researchers attributed the closing of the gap to the greater number of female drivers, and partly to more aggressive driving habits among women.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men are responsible for more than four out of five drunk driving incidents in the country. This is linked to binge drinking, and about one-third of crash deaths involve an alcohol-impaired driver. These factors likely contribute to the greater statistical danger to male drivers. Given that auto insurance rates are based on risk and probability, this means higher car insurance quotes for men should not be considered surprising.