Myths aside: who drives better, men or women?

Even in 2021, in the 21st century, there are still driving myths that focus on the gender of the driver. That is why reports are still being produced to determine whether men or women are better drivers. These are usually reports that seek statistical data, and their clients are typically insurance companies. The latest one, commissioned by the platform Acierto.es, is very revealing.

This report shows that women are more prominent when it comes to filing claims, but these refer to minor incidents. Most of these claims arise from small lapses of attention at the wheel, which usually result in scratches, minor breakdowns and similar incidents. Claims filed by women account for 53% of those submitted to insurers.

Fewer incidents, but more serious ones

In the case of claims filed by men, these tend to be more serious, even though they make up 47% of the claims filed. These are claims for serious technical accidents, which cost the insurer more and are harder to resolve. So we can conclude that there are no major differences in terms of “driving worse” or “driving better” by gender. The difference between one concept and the other comes down to age.

As far as younger drivers are concerned, they file fewer claims than those over 65. But the problems these claims refer to are more serious. Compensation for deaths and third-party damages is higher when drivers are between 18 and 23 years old. A lack of driving experience may be what causes this.

This is one of the main reasons why insurance premiums are more expensive for younger people. There are now insurance policies that are adjusted to each user’s driving conditions, so a better premium can be obtained depending on the type of driving. The more sensible and controlled the driving, the lower the price for the policyholder.

This report is based on a sample of 1,143,975 Spanish drivers. Of these, 829,020 are men and 314,955 are women. The drivers whose data was collected range in age from 18 to 97, so the report is quite illuminating and helps dispel myths. Driving experience and driving style matter more than the gender of the person behind the wheel.