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Male drivers more likely to be distracted behind the wheel

Male drivers more likely to be distracted behind the wheel

Viknesh Vijayenthiran March 17th, 2008 Viknesh Vijayenthiran By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Author March 17th, 2008
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December 31st, 1969 A recent survey of 1,350 drivers has found that male drivers are more likely to get distracted while driving than their female counterparts. Respondents were given a list of common distractions and were asked to admit which of the occurrences on the list they were guilty of. The biggest overall distractions in the car were the stereo, which 76% of drivers admitted to fiddling with instead of concentrating on the road, according to the results of the study run by Australian insurance group NRMA. Music and drinking beverages were also high up on the list amongst all drivers - but the men in the survey reported more instances of near-crashes due to distraction, with a whopping 30% admitting to nearly crashing. Only 20% of female respondents reported near crashes due to distraction. Oddly enough, being distracted while trying to catch a glimpse of someone from the opposite sex was not one of the factors on the list. In a bad sign for road safety campaigns everywhere, it was found that almost 20% of drivers were messaging or texting while on the road even though the vast majority recognized how dangerous this was. In stark contrast to popular stereotypes, the study also found that only 11% of women admitted to applying makeup in the car however more respondents admitted to other distracting activities such as reading maps, reading the newspaper, shaving, kissing and chasing insects.
Male drivers more likely to be distracted behind the wheel

Male drivers more likely to be distracted behind the wheel

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A recent survey of 1,350 drivers has found that male drivers are more likely to get distracted while driving than their female counterparts. Respondents were given a list of common distractions and were asked to admit which of the occurrences on the list they were guilty of.

The biggest overall distractions in the car were the stereo, which 76% of drivers admitted to fiddling with instead of concentrating on the road, according to the results of the study run by Australian insurance group NRMA. Music and drinking beverages were also high up on the list amongst all drivers - but the men in the survey reported more instances of near-crashes due to distraction, with a whopping 30% admitting to nearly crashing. Only 20% of female respondents reported near crashes due to distraction. Oddly enough, being distracted while trying to catch a glimpse of someone from the opposite sex was not one of the factors on the list.

In a bad sign for road safety campaigns everywhere, it was found that almost 20% of drivers were messaging or texting while on the road even though the vast majority recognized how dangerous this was.

In stark contrast to popular stereotypes, the study also found that only 11% of women admitted to applying makeup in the car however more respondents admitted to other distracting activities such as reading maps, reading the newspaper, shaving, kissing and chasing insects.

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Comments (12 total)

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  1. By chris #1, Posted: 3/17/2008

    the women dont report as many near crashes cause they were too distracted to realize it at the time. no. really.

  2. By SuperSkyline89 #2, Posted: 3/17/2008

    I'm so guilty of being distracted by the stereo. Oddly enough, I've never been distracted by a hot girl, I'm just never looking for them while driving. The other day on a 15 minute drive my close friend spotted over 20 hot girls, I just sat there thinking how do you notice all that? I guess it's because I'm to busy going fast to care and he doesn't speed at all.

  3. By Gus #3, Posted: 3/17/2008

    And while the men nearly crashed, the women actually did...

  4. By chris #4, Posted: 3/17/2008

    lol@gus

    skyline... you have to get distracted by your stereo? god how early 2000 is THAT? i just talk to my car/stereo and it does what i want it to.

  5. By chris #5, Posted: 3/17/2008

    oh... and i dont get distracted by "pedestrians" that often but if i saw THAT broad up there.... yeah id probably drift a couple feet.

  6. By CK #6, Posted: 3/17/2008

    You're writing my thoughts chirs :D

  7. By SuperSkyline89 #7, Posted: 3/17/2008

    chris . . . i don't need a computer to do things for me.

    P.S. I realize you're probably being sarcastic

  8. By Sir Yappie #8, Posted: 3/17/2008

    wow with a body like that girl above yea i would get distracted...

  9. By ink Master #9, Posted: 3/17/2008

    hahah - nice one Gus :D

  10. By Jason #10, Posted: 3/17/2008

    i agree with chris. that is exactly what i was thinking while reading. the reason more are reported to "nearly crash" is becasue the men look up more attentively and quickly and react sharply, wehre the women end up crashing or don't even notice they made a mistake driving...
    teh tough thing about honking when someone cuts you off is when they REALLY deserve to be honked at, theres not even enough time to do so, just gotta get out of their way.

  11. By RB #11, Posted: 3/17/2008

    standard of driving generally in OZ is dire compared to the UK - Also the design of the roads here do not help (lots of traffic lights on fast roads causes the population to race off when the lights change green and brake late when they change to red! - and in between everyone drives right up your backside- its shocking!) I would be interested to see a similar study from the UK on UK driving, or from the US etc etc

  12. By Sir Yappie #12, Posted: 3/18/2008

    RB....im with you on that one.
    the standard of driving here in OZ has gotten terrible. Everyone seems to forget about indicating, and if they do its a one click then change of lanes, mobile phone use is prevelant while driving (this includes SMSing)...
    Makes me wish for the insanity of European drivers...at least you knew that they are better drivers..

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