WOMEN'S SUPERIOR MIRROR SKILLS NOT REFLECTED IN DRIVING TEST PASS RATE

While female learners are better at checking their mirrors, they are let down by poor reversing skills on their driving test, says AA driving school, revealing men pass in a shorter time and take fewer attempts.

Keeping an eye out for other motorists may be a female speciality, with men 10 per cent more likely to make a mirror-related fault. But when it comes to reversing and turning in the road, 40 per cent more women than men will fail their test attempting these manoeuvres.

Parents with daughters may need to set aside more money to get them qualified for the road. Compared to men, women tend to take another two and a half months to pass their test, needing another 15-16 hours of tuition.

Linda Hatswell of AA driving school says: "Statistically, men have the edge when it comes to the number of tests they take before they pass - although the difference between the sexes among 17-year-old learners is marginal, men are roughly 10 per cent more likely to pass between the age of 18 and 24. This is no bad thing, of course, as women are also proven to be safer drivers in the long run.

"Generally, men are more technically-minded and tend to pick up the practical skills more easily. Women, on the other hand, often interpret what they are taught and develop their own technique when putting it into practice, which may take a little more time."

The true disparity comes with the length of time it takes to learn to drive. The AA believes that much of that comes down to the calibre of instructor. Consequently, since it was set up, the AA driving school has been the only national school to insist that all its Instructors have first completed their training and obtained the full DSA qualifications before beginning to teach learner drivers, giving them the experience to adapt technique to the different temperaments and abilities of learners.

About AA driving school

AA driving school has over 1,700 instructors and is the only national driving school to guarantee all its instructors are fully qualified.

Figures used taken from Department for Transport, cohort study of learner and novice drivers, January 2004 (summary overleaf).

Summary of Cohort Study findings:

Male/Female differences

Female Male

Theory test pass rate 81% 75%

Practical tuition prior to Theory 20.2 hours 16.0 hours

Study before Theory 15.3 hours 12.2 hours

Ave. age of practical test passer 23 21.2

Time to learn and pass 14.6 months 12 months

Tests taken to pass 2.12 1.87

ADI hours of tuition 51.9 hours 36.2 hours

Friends and relations practice

(of the 63% that have this as

well as ADI tuition) 32.3 hours 32.9 hours

Female Male

Pass Rates

Age 17 56% 60%

18 49% 57%

19 45% 53%

20 - 24 46% 55%

25 - 29 45% 49%

30 - 39 42% 48%

40 - 49 38% 39%

50 + 29% 29%

Total 40% 46%

Driving faults for those Failing

Most common serious fault -

reversing or turning in road 45% 32%

Minor driving faults for those

Passing

'Maintaining progress' 39% 42%

Use of mirror Males 10% more likely to make a fault

WOMEN'S SUPERIOR MIRROR SKILLS NOT REFLECTED IN DRIVING TEST PASS RATE

While female learners are better at checking their mirrors' date=' [/quote']

That's because they are using them to check their make-up!

:rofl: haha

ooooo! handbags! controversial bit of news!

EDIT: YAYY 100 POSTS! Ahem ...

That's because they are using them to check their make-up!

Thou jesteth not, oh doppelganger of the hirsute. I've seen it with me own peepers - some woman putting lippy on and doing her hair in her rear-view mirror whilst tailgating me through town ... and I was previously naive enough to think that it was "just a joke" ...

Obviously I don't believe all women lack such attention when driving, but there are plainly a few ... then again the number of blokes I've seen with mobiles glued to their ears, animatedly waving their arms deep in some conversation ... and don't get me started about the daughter of a bloke at work ... dropped the cap off some bottled water into the passenger footwell and decided to retrieve it ... at 60mph ... in the outside lane of a dual carriageway ... her little Polo was quite a mess after careering down the central barrier ...

some woman putting lippy on and doing her hair in her rear-view mirror whilst tailgating me through town ... and I was previously naive enough to think that it was "just a joke" ...

Hammond is just as bad!

My dad got hit from behind, in a motorway traffic jam.

the young lady in question, said "sorry i didn't see you stop, i was looking for my sunglasses"

Good job they were only doing 10mph.

Jonno.

so the obvious but whispered conclusion is that men (ought to) be better drivers. Maybe if more of us could keep a cool head and a lighter right foot we would be!!

May I draw everybodys attention to the following extract from the above report? Thank you

Linda Hatswell of AA driving school says: .."women are also proven to be safer drivers in the long run..."

I believe that statistics I have seen in the past show that women have roughly the same accidents\miles ratio as men but on average do less mileage per year, hence the normal cheaper insurance etc. If you do half the mileage you are taking half the risks.

I must be female, it took me ages to pass my test, though I did it straight away, first time.

One question though, how many parents actually pay for their childrens driving lessons? I don't know any.

The whole woman/man things is rubbish. Both are as bad as each other!!

Though when a stupid woman pulled out off a side road infront of me (I was on a major road) I had to stamp on the brakes so hard that even the furby locked up!!

She carried on not even knowing what had happen (dispite the noise from both the tyres and the horn.) I caught up with her and wound down my window and starting yelling at her, of course she didn't hear because I radio was up so high. "I'm sorry" is what she said. "Your sorry you f**ki stupid cow" at this point not only was I red in the face from being so good damn angry, but also because in my mouth I did have chew gum which had now been spat out of my mouth as I yelled!

Anyway needless rant and story but I'd thought I'd share that.

Oh and as for the mirror thing, I dont believe that to be honest!

One question though' date=' how many parents actually pay for their childrens driving lessons? I don't know any.[/quote']

My dad paid for mine - It was his car and him teaching me. Not one pro lesson, just lots of practise at every given possibility, and a few books to get it perfect for the test.

My dad paid for mine - It was his car and him teaching me. Not one pro lesson, just lots of practise at every given possibility, and a few books to get it perfect for the test.

Lucky bugger. I had about 120 lessons, times that by

I believe that statistics I have seen in the past show that women have roughly the same accidents\miles ratio as men but on average do less mileage per year, hence the normal cheaper insurance etc. If you do half the mileage you are taking half the risks.

Would love to actually hold and look at those stats.....it's exactly what I have been saying for years.......hence it should read women get cheaper insurance as they dont have so many accidents....not women get cheaper insurance because they are better drivers.......stir stir stir couldn't find the wooden spoon smiley

Women are better drivers ay!?

Well could someone please tell that to the stupid old cow that hit my car tonight!

Outside my bloody house of all places! Stupid thing couldn't wait to get through the gap and hit the rear of my car, which has taken out most of the side of her car!

On the plus side (for her) it's wasn't my fabia, it was the rover!

Still it's done

Still it's done

Sod her - go through the insurance and also report her to the police if she failed to provide her details at the scene of an accident. She shouldn't dictate how your car gets repaired and there's no guarantee she's going to pay it if you go down that route Chin up' date=' it was only the Rover and enjoy your night out

Chris[/quote']

make sure you report the accident to the police regaurdless ........ and if she wouldn't supply details tell them that also as I am sure it is illegal to leave the scene of an accident without exchanging details

Absolutely correct. If she won't give details, ask for a police officer to request them from her. Oh and do you have a camera phone? Most people carry their mobile with them, if you have an accident, take a few pictures, don't forget to include their numberplate.

I must be female' date=' it took me ages to pass my test, though I did it straight away, first time.

One question though, how many parents actually pay for their childrens driving lessons? I don't know any.[/quote']

Mine did for my 17th birthday. I passed after 13 lesson's (13 one hour lessons)

I was lucky enough to get my lessons paid for, but I think my parents just wanted to stop chauffeuring me around everywhere Started on November 13th and passed first time on January 31st

Chris

I hope you got some details off her and I would definitely report it to the police. This is why I believe that the statistics show that women have less accedents. I have seen so many women cause accidents and swear blind they werent at fault. Also I have been in cars as a passenger on two occasion's when a woman has cut someone up and they have swerved and hit us. Of course the women in both cases drove on thier way like nothing had happened.

Not being sexist or nothing I just think that the statistics aren't particulary accurate given my experience.

Oh and another one, my old hyundai was parked up and some woman trying to park reversed into it a some speed. I saw her do it and came out to investigate only to find her looking at the front of her car to see what she hit. How dumb is that, she's reversing and checks at the front for damage. She tried to say she didnt do it, but my cracked number plate said different.

I think women are better liers then men which is why they "cause" less accidents.

Cheers guys, I didn't report it to the police as I didn't have time last night and as I'm at work now (3 hours sleep how the hell did I get to work this morning) so I'll try and report it tonight.

I'm going to post another thread about the follow up as I think I might need some advice

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?p=394037#post394037

Good bunch the AA to learn with, passed in 18 hours. Also (even though gearbox was crap on everyone my instructor had) good to learn in Ford Focus as its a good large car, makes me feel so much more confident in my fabia and fine when drivings mum's octy.

And yup all my female friends.... hours and hours to pass, one had 5 test attempts! (thankfully her parents cant afford to buy her a car... not a bad thing!)

It's a pity there are no statistics for near misses, especially of male drivers going passed pedal cyclists too closely, also parked cars too quickly closely and quickly - perhaps they have shares in a wing-mirror company. Not to mention those near misses caused by motorcyclists (usually men) going too fast in a non-existent middle lane.

Having said that, we have roadworks traffic lights on the high street here, at which cars were stopped. A woman decided to take the opportunity to turn right at pootling speed in front of a police car doing 40-ish with lights and siren blaring. How she got away with that one is beyond me, as is how she could possibly have failed to see it, unless she was checking her rear view mirror of course

Mo