Men's driving habits 'can lead to crashes'

Date: 6/6/2011

Male drivers have a higher likelihood of being involved in a crash than their female counterparts due to the motoring habits they have developed.

Such is the finding of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), which claims these tendencies include travelling at a higher speed or drinking alcohol before getting behind the wheel.

Its research report - entitled Licensed to skill: Contributory factors in road accidents - reveals that males are almost two times more likely to be involved in a collision as a result of carelessness, recklessness or haste, than women.

They were also found to have a higher tendency towards crashing because of poor behaviour or insufficient experience.

IAM Chief Executive Simon Best said: "These results show that we need to look at the psychology of male drivers to reduce risky behaviour and over-confidence, but for both sexes, accidents could be easily reduced by improving driver skills and lives could be saved."

In terms of consuming alcohol before getting behind the wheel, the group's Chief Examiner Peter Rodger recently claimed that even the day after drinking motorists may still be over the limit.

Posted by Sarah Bailey