Would you agree or disagree that women (in general) are worse drivers than men?


Discuss

 

NOPE.

Clover

 

Moderators, shouldn't this be merged with the 95% Stupid thread? I think one got away...

 

If you check out the name of myminicoopah's website he (or she?) takes a more inclusive view. I grew up with a mom that was one of those people who couldn't drive without her mouth open. My dad was a good driver only in the sense my brother and I, embarrassed at the number of angry drivers behind us, used to plead with him to exceed the speed limit even just a little. I don't know that I can generalize from them though.

I have noticed an ever escalating number of women driving faster with mouths shut if not on a cellphone ( ). In fact, the majority of people flying by me even though I'm already speeding are female. In fact, the last time -- and we know this happens -- someone hit the pedal hard to speed by me to snear over from their muscle car was a 20 something blonde female with a snooty nose seeming to point at her rearview mirror. Compensating for something?

Past reports from people who've driven with Clover indicate she's a pretty good driver. Since I've never been corrected when referring to her as a "she" I assume Clover has chosen the female lifestyle.

Edit added later: Har har! I bet others assumed the thread had to be started by a guy. Another example that I am not dum and didn't take that for granted.

 

That was a great response inioway, and I enjoyed reading it. I am of the female gender. The reason I brought it up, is because it seems every forum I've visited mentions how terrible women drivers are. I do not believe your talent of driving necessarily has to do with gender. :smile:

 

I don't think women are worst drivers,some are speedy,some are slow,just like males.
But what I do notice is that women don't tend to let you change lanes, ,nor do they move over to let you merge when coming off a ramp.
I do notice that women tend to STOP at stop signs,which is a good thing.
And don't get me started on cell phones,male or female

 

Not that I think that women are bad drivers, I just don't think they pay attention to the same things men do and vice versa.

 

Haha, funny links. Thanks for sharing.

 

Bad driving is more of a function of brains and courtesy or lack thereof. I think gender has zip to do with it.

 

Statistically, women are safer drivers. Capitalism doesn't lie, right? Our insurance is cheaper. That being said, I think fewer women have the car gene, but those that do would probably be similar in terms of insurance costs if only the companies knew.

I tend to obey the laws. I will not mention my views on speed limits as that can get me into trouble. I don't have a jones for a JCW kit for nothing... I feel the need... the need for speed.

I've met crappy drivers of both sexes -- depends on the person, I think. I like to know how many accidents someone has had. I love the folks who tell me all their accidents have not been "their fault." Part of being a really good driver is AVOIDING accidents, not just "not causing" them!

Here's something to ponder... Most people think they're good drivers. Being a good driver would suggest that you're better than average. Statistics say the majority of folks are average... therefore, how can most people be good drivers? I think most of us are still alive by sheer luck...

 

Great post, Neko, with imo some excellent points. My only slight disagreement is within the part cited above. Mini drivers ARE above average drivers. Sure, I've read a couple of postings by Mini drivers who've done assaholic things, but they are a lunatic fringe. We are better drivers, not only because of who we are , but also because our little cars handle so well. Braking and cornering ability have saved me several times when defensive driving was needed, probably avoiding fender benders. We are also smaller targets for those, male or female, driving bulgemobiles to hit.

 

Interesting thread. I don't think that gender has as much to do regarding the quality of drivers as environment. Case in point, a couple of summers ago, I was attending a British car show in Dayton, Ohio. My MGA was parked in front of the MGB of an elderly gentleman. As the day was hot, and the shade sparse, we wound up sharing lemonades and sitting under the same oak tree for the better part of the afternoon. The gentleman turned out to be the grandfather of IRL racings Sarah Fisher (an EXCELLENT driver, who has qualified on pole for an IRL race and finished on the podium several times - She kicks mucho butt of the male persuasion). While notably proud of his granddaughter's achievements, I learned that she had "inherited" her passion for driving from her grandfather and his MGs. Therefore, I think that the type of vehicle (and visceral driving experiences) one is exposed to at a tender age, rather than gender tend to shape one's outcome more.

 

I agree, MGCMAN. I mentioned this in a long-ago thread, but it seems fitting to mention it here again: my earliest auto memory is sitting in Daddy's lap at about age 2 or 3, behind the wheel of his Hillman Minx, and being SO excited by the illusion that I was driving it!


Clover

 

There are exceptions to all things. I am one in this case. As previously noted, my mom was unable to drive without her mouth open, and my dad was such a law and order driver that he caused road rage among those behind him.

Me? The only time I've been in an accident was in high school when a car load of drunk "old" people caught my fender swerving to avoid a snowdrift: I couldn't defend due to the snowpacked roadside. I am a great driver.

But my brother provides evidence of the wider truth. The first time he tried driving was on my uncles farm with my dad beside him. He managed to run the pink Plymouth into a telephone poll and bust a headlight. To this day he drives like a guy who just stole the vehicle trying to elude the cops. Further establishing the genetic link is to my mom -- a female by the way -- is his need to drive with his mouth open (dmo: should be a felony).

 

No offense meant here but, I'm going to disagree with you, inioway. If the car's superior handling is saving you (I know it has me on occasion), then I think you're probably driving beyond your abilities. Not saying I don't do it too on occasion, just that it's not such a good practice.

Driving beyond your abilities...? A cop explained it this way to an ex-bf once... (Said bf thought he was an excellent driver until the cop told him to tell the gf (ME) that he was actually pretty bad. Amazing the bf fessed up this info, but hey... )

Everybody has X driving ability (different for each person). If you drive at 70% of X, then you have 30% of skill remaining to deal with problems. The cop told my ex-bf that he was driving at about 95% of his X ability -- meaning that he was driving at the edge of his skills. No wiggle room - not a good place to be. When you run out of skills, the car can sometimes save you through handling and sometimes through safety systems (ABS or even airbags, if it comes to that). The cop's advice was to always drive well within your abilities.

I know I don't always practice that principle , but I believe it and I do try.

I fondly remember "helping" dad drive (while the vehicle was in motion!)... This was back before everyone accepted that it was incredibly stupid to let kids jump around the car unbelted!

 

Of course, no offense taken. Here's examples of what I mean even if not my own.

- a kid's ball suddenly flies into the street, you brake just in time to not hit the kid who's chasing it: I'd be much likely not be be able to brake as fast in my lumbering Saab.

- low and wide center of balance: much safer under icy conditions than the Izuzu Rodeo I once owned when driving the same way.

and this one that's from my own experience:

- ability to swerve quickly when someone crosses onto my side of the street. If I'd have been in my Saab I'm pretty sure its side would have been pretty mashed up.

I remember when I drove forementioned lumbering Saab in for a test drive. For a second I thought it was too easy to swerve in a Mini due to the lack of play in the wheel. I still maintain once you get the feel it is much safer for defensive driving needs in a world with lots of bad drivers.

I agree driving a Mini doesn't necessarily equal good driver. Probably I overstated that for effect (guilty ). Evidence of Mini owners gone wild is witnessed by some of the braggish posts on NAM that show the writers eligibility for a bad driver's certificate.

 

I really believe the most important thing to do while driving is PAY ATTENTION

 

eck. The average cop wouldn't know a good driver from a bad one. And motorcycle cops are the worst motorcycle riders on the road.

It's not women drivers that bother me, although young women seem to tailgate more often, and many are very aggressive.

It's Volvo drivers that scare the hell of out me.

 

I find this fascinating. A thread about women drivers, started by a woman, and I see the men sitting in the corner asking themselves, "Geee, should I say anything in here?" If this thread were started by a man, I would guess they would all be standing in line to say something derogatory about the feared "Woman driver". IMO

Women drivers have taken a beating since the dawn of time about their driving habits. It's the same old adage of a few bad grapes spoil the wine. I personally don't have an opinion about women drivers, my fiance is a very good driver, albeit, too slow, but that's my problem, I drive too fast.


I do, however, have a problem with young female drivers. Oh I'm sure there are a lot of good, young girl, ages 16-18, drivers that know what they are doing. And here's the but. But, I have yet to see one. For example, while driving from Ohio back to Denver, Jan 2nd, the day after New Years Day with my new fiance and little girl of 12. 95% of the girls driving on I-80 west bound would either, sit in the fast lane going less than the speed limit and would not move to the slow lane, and be singing and dancing in the front seat, completely unaware of what's around them, or, again, singing and dancing and eating and talking and putting on make up, completely oblivious to their surroundings, would all of a sudden pull into the fast lane without looking while going slower than the rest of the traffic, almost causing a large number of accidents, some of which where right in front of me or worse yet, beside me. Every since that experience, I have been watching not only the actions of other vehicles in a defensive manner, as always, but also the drivers of those cars. Guess what, a little girl is behind the wheel when I see someone doing something stupid, just about every time. It's like they have not learned or been taught the destructive nature of 3 to 4 thousand pounds of steel hurling down the road at a rapid rate.

Young boy drivers are no better. Darting in and out of traffic or drinking and driving, it just gives me chills.

The exception to this are little old men and women who really shouldn't be behind the wheel when they can no longer drive. I understand that when one gets older and driving privilages are revoked, there is a severe depression that takes hold, as is the case with my father. He's going blind and he went someplace that is known to be lax in their testing, because he knew he wouldn't pass a regular test. It was a very sad day. Next time he probably won't be so lucky.

I commend the people who are aware and drive defensively, but more and more there seem to be fewer of us, or maybe I'm just getting older and less tolerant. (probably the case)

OK, I've vented. Thank you

 

Pathfinder,like I said,pay attention,don't dance to the music,I have a hard time with people who listen to music loud in their cars,we also pay attention with our ears.Cell phones have voice mail,use it.I will admit to drinking coffee while on the highway,but not when someone is coming at me or about to pass me,or the conditions are bad.I,ve seen people reading while driving
All women are not bad drivers,all men are not bad drivers,there are just bad drivers out there,keep you guard up,pay attention,and good luck out there.

 

Okay, I'll bite... why? (Caution, you are speaking to one who drove her Volvo wagon to 300K+ before getting an MCS...)

 

Monkeyboy,unless it's good,RUN

 

My guess is he's referring to the latte sipping Volvo driving stereotype.

We all obviously love cars but pathfnder mentions what I think is a real shame in this country. When most folks get too old to drive safely there are usually few other options for getting around. My dad's vision rapidly deteriorated to the point where he could no longer drive. He describes the dependence and isolation due to that being the cause of most of his difficulty with the condition.

BTW, I agree with what pathfnder says about so many young female drivers but was also thinking what about young guys. Glad the sentence was put in putting many of them in that category too. Yesterday I was challenged by a young woman driver who thought she could get me to run by agressively aiming her Toyota at me while turning on a downtown corner. This was despite me having the walk signal and my staring at her. She gave me a vicious scowl as she eventually stomped her foot down. But I also saw a young guy in a black pickup truck going about 45 in a 20 mph zone in the heart of campus with lots of pedestrians at risk.

 

Ladies,

I'd like for one or all of you to answer a question for me, that has plagued me for years, if you would be so kind. My ex and my new fiance seem to have, for lack of a better term, a problem with depth perception. An example that comes to mind is, when waiting on a side street looking for a place to pull into traffic, there have been a few openings with plenty of room to do so, yet they have waited for a huge hole in traffic in which to merge, and have sat there for quite some time. My question is. Is there a lack of confidence in the vehicle's performance to do it's job? Is there a real lack of depth perception? Does it stem from having kids and the mother protector instinct, kicks in, out of habit? I see it, if they were in a hurry or not, that doesn't seem to be a factor. The only other woman I have ridden with is my sister and she does the same thing. I'm very confused. I may regret this next statement, but it does seem to be gender specific, with the exception of elderly gentlemen. Can anyone shed some light? I want to understand.

 

I would be the first in line to increase the minimum driving age. My 12 year old little girl has the attention span of a gnat and at 16 with all the hormones going, I can't believe it's much better, a mere 4 years later. I, for one, had no business driving at 16, but I couldn't wait just the same. A car is potentialy, too dangerous, to be guided by infants.