Women encouraged to get behind the wheel more often

Date: 10/12/2010

Women have been urged to get into the driving seat more often rather than allowing their partners to take the wheel.

A new study by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) found in households where both partners drive, the man is far more likely to operate the car when going out for the day.

The organisation believes this often deprives females of the opportunity to gain driving experience and confidence.

Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research at the IAM, says while women may drive less when in a relationship, if they do become the primary driver they could benefit from undergoing advanced training in order to boost their skills and confidence.

The body advises ladies to be assertive and choose to drive as much as possible, rather than deferring to partners on long journeys, noting they are generally more nervous than men when driving in bad weather.

This is a particularly relevant issue considering the severe conditions that have afflicted the UK recently, with research from insurer AXA showing there was an 85 per cent increase in single vehicle accidents over the last week due to snow and ice on the roads.

Posted by Mary Treen