Lynnaire Johnston - Whoâ s the worse behaved behind the wheel â “ men or women? - Cars - Easymix

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Lynnaire Johnston - Whoâ s the worse behaved behind the wheel â “ men or women?

Friday, July 08, 2011 11:19 AM

Men are traditionally seen as more aggressive drivers than women. But is that really true? You may be surprised to know that the fairer sex is by far the more badly behaved behind the wheel. And significantly so in terms of minor misbehaviour.

For instance, statistically women are more likely to drive 8-15 kph over the speed limit than men. But we even up when it comes to speeding at 25-40 kph over the limit.

When it comes to minor misbehaviour on the roads, women have it all over men. We will be more likely to make rolling stops and illegal turns, fail to signal lane changes, follow too closely (we're much worse at this than men), go through red lights and refuse to give other drivers right of way. Women are also more likely to yell, swear and call other drivers names, to toot in protest at other drivers' behaviour, to tailgate dangerously, and to cruise in the passing lane.

The only activity that men are more likely to do than women is to shine their headlights on full beam in retaliation for a perceived misdemeanour. Women will also be more likely to deliberately cut another driver off.

However, when it comes to real road rage behaviour, men are more likely than women to block the way, use their car as a weapon, chase another car, and get into a physical fight with other drivers.

Which is all fascinating, but what does it tell us? That we should all behave behind the wheel as if our mother were watching.