The Truth about Female Drivers

Although Insurance Auto Claims connects women to the best auto insurance at the lowest rates because we believe they're safe drivers, the battle of the sexes has yet to yield a clear-cut winner. There are plenty of statistics available that could be used to support both sides, leaving both to claim victory but none to wear the crown. Take a look at the following facts and judge for yourself:

• Even if it's true that men are better drivers than women, they certainly don't start out that way. A study conducted by Johns Hopkins Schools of Medicine and Public Health reveals teenage boys are involved in 20 percent more crashes than are their female counterparts. That's supported by a report issued by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which claims two out of every three teenagers who die in auto accidents are male.
• At the age of 20, the battle of the sexes begins to even out. Johns Hopkins researchers found that women between 20 and 35 are just as likely to be involved in a traffic collision as are men.
• Once women hit 35, their likelihood of being in an accident surpasses that of men--if one crunches the numbers properly. Based on miles traveled, women are involved in 5.7 traffic collisions per million miles, compared to 5.1 accidents for men. That said, it should be noted that men drive an average of 74 percent more miles than do women every year.
• A look at straight numbers tells a different tale, however. The National Safety Council reports that women are involved in an average of 13,800 collisions every year, while men get into an average of 38,900 accidents.
• No matter how you look at the numbers, men are at a higher risk of suffering more serious consequences from traffic accidents. They're three times more likely to be killed in a crash.
• Although they're still ahead of men in the safety race, the margin appears to be narrowing. In examining a seven-year period, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that female deaths in car accidents rose 14 percent, while male deaths fell by 10 percent.
• The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that women are less likely to be involved in rollover accidents. The reasons: Women are less likely to drink and drive; they're less likely to aggressively pass other drivers on the road; and they're less likely to drive after sundown. All are common and frequent factors in rollovers.
• Women are more apt to play it safe. A study conducted by General Motor's OnStar division found 62 percent of female drivers worry about and try to avoid driving on deserted roads, while only 29 percent of male drivers followed suit.
• In a survey conducted by Prince Market Research, 76 percent of the women who responded said they're better drivers than men. When asked the same question, 69 percent of the men who were interviewed claimed they'resuperior behind the wheel.
• When asked if they often exceed the speed limit, 53 percent of women interviewed in a Bridgestone study admitted to doing so. 60 percent of the men who took part in the study made the same admission.
• Of all the women who die each year in traffic accidents, an average of 11.2 percent are found to have been intoxicated, the Fatal Accident Reporting System reveals. That's nearly half the percentage of men--21.8 percent-- who are found to have been drinking prior to a fatal crash.