Male vs. Female Drivers- Who’s Better?

In response to a recent New York Times article series about the difference between male and female drivers across the globe, Josh Max (an AOL Autos Correspondent) recently reflected on his own experiences on the AOL Autos website. Between the Times series and Max’s piece the verdict seems to be in- women drivers get the prize for being safer drivers overall, on the road.

This doesn’t come as a big surprise to most people in the insurance industry as women have traditionally paid less for car insurance than men for many years. Why you ask?

When insurance companies compare the number of accidents and claims reported by men vs. women, the results show that men report a much higher number of accidents than women, regardless of education or income level, explains Insurance.com.

Why are men involved in so many more accidents? The Times article series reports that men are more likely to ignore traffic signals, to honk their horns, to rudely gesture at other drivers, and to be involved in tragic accidents. (Ouch fellas!)

But, we hate to put all men in the same boat. Although men may be charged slightly more for auto insurance, there are a lot of ways to help decrease the costs. Drivers who complete a Driver Safety or Defensive Driver class, for example, may be eligible to save up to 15% on their bi-annual premium. Also, simply practicing safe driving can help reduce rates as most insurance companies will reward good drivers each year they remain accident and claim free.