The “women are bad drivers” stereotype is one of the world’s most enduring myths. How often have you heard a comedian, a newspaper, or someone in your life claim that women are the worst drivers?
Let’s get real. The fact is that car crash statistics don’t bear out this fact, with men being involved in more accidents than women. Plus, men are likelier to be involved in fatal crashes than women. There’s no evidence whatsoever that women are worse drivers than men. Instead, it’s the inverse that’s true.
Want to know why CBS News reported that men pay $15,000 more for auto insurance than women over a lifetime [1]? In this article, we’ll dig into the numbers to answer the question, “Do men or women get in more car accidents?”
Key Takeaways
- Male drivers have a higher chance of getting into an auto accident than women.
- Most fatalities on the road are men, even though there are more licensed female drivers in the U.S.
- Most DUIs and traffic tickets are given to men across every state, indicating that men are more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors.
- Some of the leading contributors to more male car accidents include a greater chance of speeding, driving under the influence, and driving while drowsy.
- Males between the ages of 21 and 34 represent the highest-risk demographic among male drivers.
- Drivers who become victims of a car accident should call a lawyer at the earliest possible opportunity to support them in investigating their accident, building their case, and representing them throughout the legal process.
Do Male or Female Drivers Get in More Accidents?
Men are likelier to be involved in car accidents than women. However, the numbers show that women are more likely to suffer from serious injuries, with a particular focus on frontal and passenger-side collisions.
It’s not as simple as saying that women are more dangerous on the road because it’s how you interpret the numbers. For example, the University of Michigan found that between 1998 and 2007, women were involved in 68.1% of all traffic accidents in the U.S. [2].
Case closed, right?
Wrong. The same study found that despite women being involved in nearly 70% of accidents, they only drove 40% of the time. This implies that while they were present, they weren’t necessarily the ones behind the wheel.
What Gender Drives More Frequently?
Men drive more frequently than women. According to the Journal of Consumer Affairs, there were 119 million licensed female drivers but only 116 million licensed male drivers [3]. But men drive significantly more than women per year according to the statistics.
The Federal Highway Administration found that men drive 16,550 miles annually on average, with women only covering 10,142 miles, around 30% less [4]. This finding makes sense because the more you drive, the likelier you will be in an accident. On the other hand, there are three million more licensed female drivers, so surely this has to be offset, right?
Actually, it doesn’t, and that’s because other factors are at play, including how each gender behaves when they’re behind the wheel and the vehicles they drive.
Are Men’s or Women’s Car Crashes Deadlier?
Men are likelier to die on the road than women by a considerable margin. The IIHS found in a 2015 study that 71% of all serious car accidents involving motor vehicle crash deaths involved men, with women making up a mere 29% of deaths [5].
If we go back a little, the same study examined motor vehicle crashes between 1975 and 2015 and concluded that men were twice as likely to die in an auto accident than women. And this is talking purely about accident rates when driving a four-wheeled vehicle. The study also looked at motorcycle crashes involving male drivers, and the situation grew even worse, with 91% of motorcycle fatalities being men.
Again, this is due to various factors that can be summed up as men drive larger vehicles, drive more, and are likelier to engage in risky behaviors.
Do Men or Women Get More Traffic Tickets?
Men receive way more tickets than women across every age group. According to CBS News, men are ticketed 50% more than women, regardless of age. [6] State statistics bear out this trend, with every state reporting the bulk of tickets issued going to male drivers.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol ticket database, men receive 50% more speeding tickets than their female counterparts. Interestingly, men in Minnesota over 55 receive 200% more tickets than women [7]. Over in New York State, men were 2.5 times more likely to get a ticket than women, based on statistics from the New York Department of Motor Vehicles [8].
Now, these numbers cover every age group. There are variations based on driver age, but in no scenario will women exceed the number of tickets issued to men nationwide every year. We all know about the dangers of not following the rules of the road, so these figures go a long way to explaining why men cause more motor vehicle crashes and why they’re likelier to be killed.
Do Men or Women Get More DUIs?
Men hold the lion’s share of DUIs and also cause the most accidents where someone is driving drunk. According to Drunk Driving Stats, in 2010, men were responsible for 80% of all DUIs, with the age 21-34 demographic being the worst offenders [9].
It’s no secret that younger men have a reputation for drinking one too many and trying to drive home. Unlike the women are bad drivers stereotype, this one is actually true. Despite making up only 11% of the population, this demographic contributed to 32% of all drunk driving encounters nationwide.
Interestingly, the same study found that male binge drinkers were responsible for 85% of all drunk driving incidents.
What are the Risk Factors that Make Men More Likely to Be in a Car Accident?
The question is, why are men apparently causing so many more accidents? It’s due to the driving habits and behaviors that separate men from women, including an increased chance of speeding, driving drunk, and driving while sleepy.
Road safety experts have been attempting to tackle the main risk factors for years to make America’s roads safer, including increased driver education and penalties for offenders. In Illinois, this is a huge problem because of how car accident claims are handled. Firstly, is Illinois a no-fault state or an at-fault state? The problem is Illinois is an at-fault state, meaning if you're at fault, you might not get any compensation at all.
Let’s examine the main risk factors that result in men being more of a danger on the roadways of America.
What are High-Risk Driving Behaviors?
The behavior of individual drivers is the leading cause of accidents across the country. The decisions you make when you buckle up and get behind the wheel influence whether you arrive at your destination safely.
Any behavior that could increase the risk of being involved in an accident is considered a high-risk driving behavior. Some examples include:
- Speeding
- Using your mobile phone
- Eating/drinking while driving
- Daydreaming
- Driver fatigue
A study by the University of Alabama published in Accident Analysis & Prevention discovered that male drivers were significantly more likely to engage in one or more high-risk driving behaviors [10].
So, what factors are men more likely to engage in?
Men are More Likely to Speed
Speed limits are in place for a reason, but speeding remains a chronic disease across the U.S. In findings that will surprise few, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety confirmed that women tend to drive slower, with more male drivers speeding than females [11].
Another point to remember is that the same study found that men aren’t just faster when they drive, but they also drive more aggressively. On the other hand, women are likelier to deploy defensive driving techniques.
Speeding leads to more accidents because driving at higher speeds gives you less time to apply the brakes or swerve. Even if you manage to do either of these things in time, the distance you need to pull off the maneuver without hitting something becomes far greater.
Men Are More Likely to Drive Under the Influence
Driving while drunk or after taking drugs ruins your ability to drive carefully. We’ve already found that men make up most DUI incidents in America, showing that a man is likelier to attempt to drive under the influence than a woman.
Whenever you drink or consume an illicit substance, your ability to think rationally and react quickly is diminished. Those who’ve consumed a huge amount of alcohol may even blackout while behind the wheel, with disastrous results.
It’s also no surprise that the group with the highest chance of driving under the influence is young adults under the age of 35.
Men Are More Likely to Drive While Drowsy
Driving drowsy is as bad as driving drunk. Like being under the influence, your reaction times slow, and there’s a chance of passing out. Male drivers also lead women in this category, with a survey by The Zebra finding that 32.9% of men had fallen asleep at the wheel, compared to 22.2% of women drivers [12].
What is Distracted Driving?
It’s also worth mentioning that distracted driving has similar effects to driving drowsy or drunk. Your focus should remain on the road and what’s happening around you because this is when you can anticipate problems and react accordingly.
Three types of distractions exist for drivers:
- Visual – Your eyes aren’t focused on the road. Perhaps you’re changing the radio station or turned to yell at your kids who are horsing around in the back. The eyes should never leave the road unless you’ve come to a complete halt.
- Manual – Manual distractions are anything that requires you to take one or more hands off the wheel. This could be texting while driving or taking a big bite from your burrito.
- Cognitive – Your mind isn’t focused on the action of driving. If you let your mind wander, you’re not really paying attention. Daydreaming or focusing too much on your favorite music track are examples of cognitive distractions.
Note that many types of distracted driving incidents may involve more than one type of distraction. For example, if you’re chatting to a passenger, slurping a drink, and playing with your phone, you’ve covered all three bases.
Unlike the other categories, men and women are a mixed bag on distracted driving. Some studies have found that men are likelier to drive distracted, with women taking the title in some areas, such as using a cell phone while driving.
Men Drive More Miles Than Women
We’ve already established that men eat up more miles every year than women by a considerable margin. It’s natural that men will have more accidents because the longer you’re on the road, the more likely you are to encounter a bad situation, even if you’re the best driver on the planet.
Why Do Men Pay More For Car Insurance?
Men pay more for auto insurance on average because they’re likelier to be driving when an accident occurs, and they have a bigger chance of being involved in a fatal car accident. Insurers base their rates on various factors, beginning from the big-picture view and drilling down into each individual driver.
The insurance business is all about risk. You’ll get lower premiums if proven to be a low-risk driver. For example, this is why you’ll always pay higher rates if you’ve got previous DUIs on your record.
However, some states have introduced legislation prohibiting insurers from determining car insurance premiums based on their gender. These states are:
- Pennsylvania
- Massachusetts
- California
- Hawaii
- North Carolina
- Michigan
In these states, the gender gap may be lower, but insurers can still look at your driving record and use your history to increase or decrease your rates. With men likelier to get traffic citations, DUIs, and have previous accidents on their records, male drivers will still have higher average premiums.
When to Get Legal Support After a Car Accident
Accidents happen whether you’re a male or a female driver. Male and female drivers can also find themselves in accidents even if they’re perfect drivers and follow defensive driving techniques because not everyone drives responsibly.
If you were involved in an accident, it’s crucial to acquire legal representation because your actions will influence whether you’re eligible for a fair settlement. Never attempt to fight your own corner or deal with auto insurers yourself because this is the fastest way to minimize how much compensation you receive.
The time to call a lawyer is at the earliest possible opportunity after an accident. Here’s the order of priority:
- Seek medical attention.
- Call law enforcement.
- Call a lawyer.
Don’t speak to anyone about your accident until you’ve done these three things, and then your car accident attorney will instruct you on what to do next.
Why You Need a Car Accident Lawyer in Chicago
Hiring a car accident lawyer in Chicago is the best move you can make in the immediate aftermath of your accident.
But what does a Chicago car accident lawyer do for you? Here’s how they help:
- Assessing Your Claim – No reputable lawyer wants to waste your time and effort on a case that won’t go anywhere. Attorneys provide open and honest advice via a free consultation on whether you have a valid claim and your chances of success to allow you to make an informed decision.
- Handling Communications – Car accident victims know how relentless things can get when insurers get involved. Your lawyer will handle all communications with insurers and their adjusters to ensure you don’t say something that could compromise your claim or accept a below-market settlement.
- Investigating Your Accident – Lawyers also take the role of accident investigator. They’ll liaise with you, eyewitnesses, and accident reconstructionist to build the strongest case possible. It’s their job to show that you weren’t at fault and to assess how much your claim is worth.
- Conduct Negotiations – Auto insurers want to pay as little as possible, but lawyers know what your claim is really worth. With them by your side, they’ll fight hard to ensure you don’t get a dollar less than you deserve.
- Acquire Value – Most people have no idea what a particular claim is worth or what they could be entitled to. Car accident attorneys explore every avenue to ensure that you get the settlement that properly reflects the losses you’ve taken.
- Represent You in Court – Finally, a lawyer will represent you in court if your case goes that far. High-value and contentious cases may end up in a courtroom, a difficult and stressful experience for all involved. Personal injury lawyers guide you every step of the way to make sure you can cope.
Chicago personal injury attorneys aren’t an expense but an investment in getting the justice you deserve after being involved in a car accident that wasn’t your fault. Connect with a lawyer at the earliest possible opportunity and make sure you win the settlement that reflects your losses.
Men vs. Women Car Accidents: FAQs
How do men and women drive differently?
Men and women display different driving habits, with men showing increased speed and aggressive driving habits. Men are also more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors, such as driving under the influence and driving while drowsy. Moreover, men drive more and have a higher chance of driving larger vehicles, such as trucks and SUVs.
What demographic gets into the most motor vehicle crashes?
Men have a higher rate of accidents, including fatal car accidents, but there’s a substantial difference between demographics. Young men under 35 have a higher risk of being involved in an accident. Moreover, seniors have a higher rate of death on the roads.
What is the leading cause of car accidents in the U.S.?
Distracted driving causes more car accidents in the U.S. than anything else. Whenever a driver is distracted, their attention isn’t on the road, which reduces their reaction times. Among the most common distracted driving causes are using a cell phone, texting, eating while driving, or attempting to multitask on the road.
