Are Women Actually Bad Drivers

The conspiracy theory that women are worse drivers than men is FALSE; what is a good driver, how did this stereotype develop, and which sex is actually worse at driving? Let’s allow the data to support our conclusions.

Based on their different interpretations, most drivers would rate their driving capabilities as above average, but what actually determines if someone is good or bad at driving? Many would agree that a good driver is someone who is not involved in many car accidents, and if they are, the accidents are not their fault. They are careful and have a composed temperament in traffic. Because people with road rage tend to be more reckless, causing them to get into more accidents, a good driver is determined by being careful when driving, obeying the laws, and not losing your temper.

Additionally, the stereotype that women are worse drivers than men has to do with the percentage of women whose jobs involve automobiles. 72% of people think that women are worse drivers than men. This statistic is linked to the fact that mechanics is a male-dominated field, as according to The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, fewer than 2% of all mechanics are women. It is believed that men are more capable of driving vehicles without errors or accidents because they have a better understanding of the vehicle. 

Likewise, in the 1920s, the prices of cars began to fall and men were being drafted into WWI, giving middle-class women a chance to learn how to drive. Before the 1920s, only some wealthy people, fewer women than men, could afford to own an automobile. With few women driving, it did not threaten society’s belief that women are reliant on men, but as more women learned how to drive, they became less reliant on men. In order to keep the status quo, the stereotype of women being bad drivers was created. The belief that women being worse drivers than men was created as a way to keep women reliant on men.

Moreover, women being worse drivers than men is false, as supported by the data. The Social Issues Resource Center’s 2002 report analyzed studies on male versus female driving differences and found “in all studies and analyses, without exception, men have been shown to have a higher rate of crashes than women.” The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, also known as IIHs, is an independent, scientific organization made by insurance companies to monitor car accident trends. IIHS found that in the United States of America, 71% of all road fatalities are caused by men. One might think this is a recent development, but this is not the case. In 1975, the IIHS recorded 32,000 fatalities caused by men and only 11,844 by women. In 2016, the IIHS found that men caused around 26,000 fatalities and women caused 10,900 fatalities. Men indeed account for 62% of all miles driven, and women 38%, but even after the miles driven and hours are factored in, men are still responsible for the majority of fatal accidents. Even with the fact that men drive more, data proves that women get into fewer accidents than men.

The stereotype that women are worse drivers than men is not only incorrect but is also not based on data. Being a good driver is being careful when driving, obeying the laws, and not losing your temper. This stereotype was created because of the small percentage of women working with vehicles and to keep women reliant on men. Studies show that women are not responsible for as many accidents as men. Now, this being said, there are bad drivers in both sexes. Even though men cause the most accidents, this does not devalue that women are also responsible for accidents. Instead of creating a new stereotype that most men are bad drivers, we should instead destroy this stereotype against women and just state that there are bad drivers. So, the next time you see a bad driver, do not assume a gender based on their driving.

Works Cited:

ABC News Network. (n.d.). Are Women Worse Drivers Than Men? ABC News. Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3148281&page=1

Do statistics prove that women are worse drivers than men? Sure Buy Car Insurance - Best Source for Your Free Auto Insurance Quotes! (2020, October 1). Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://www.surebuycarinsurance.com/men-vs-women-driving-record-comparison-statistics/

Editor, S. (2016, December 16). Are women really bad drivers? Where did this stereotype come from? SHEmazing! Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://www.shemazing.net/are-women-really-bad-drivers-where-did-this-stereotype-come-from/