Women are the ‘better’ drivers

LONDON – Women, much-maligned by the opposite sex for their supposed lack of ability behind the wheel, make far safer and more law-abiding drivers than their male counterparts, British officials said yesterday.

Of those found guilty of all driving offences by courts in England and Wales in 2002, 88 per cent were male motorists, according to statistics published by the Home Office. Men committed almost all of the most serious offences, such as causing death and dangerous driving, but women’s share of speeding offences rose from 13 per cent in 1998 to 17 per cent in 2002.The category in which women committed the highest number of offences was obstruction, waiting and parking – being responsible for 23 per cent of such cases in 2002.Women committed just six per cent of the death or bodily harm offences in 2002 and just three per cent of dangerous driving offences.But female offences relating to driving with excess alcohol or drugs in the system increased – up from nine per cent of the total in 1998 to 11 per cent in 2002.Men were responsible for 96 per cent of vehicle thefts and 97 per cent of offences relating to motorcyles.Overall, women’s share of motoring offences rose only one per cent between 1998 and 2002.- Nampa-AFPMen committed almost all of the most serious offences, such as causing death and dangerous driving, but women’s share of speeding offences rose from 13 per cent in 1998 to 17 per cent in 2002.The category in which women committed the highest number of offences was obstruction, waiting and parking – being responsible for 23 per cent of such cases in 2002.Women committed just six per cent of the death or bodily harm offences in 2002 and just three per cent of dangerous driving offences.But female offences relating to driving with excess alcohol or drugs in the system increased – up from nine per cent of the total in 1998 to 11 per cent in 2002.Men were responsible for 96 per cent of vehicle thefts and 97 per cent of offences relating to motorcyles.Overall, women’s share of motoring offences rose only one per cent between 1998 and 2002.- Nampa-AFP