Research published today by online insurance provider yesinsurance.co.uk reveals that men think they are better drivers than women - even though statistics prove the opposite.
Conducted among 4,000 UK motorists, the research shows that almost a third (31%) of men think they are better drivers than women. However, only 5% of women agree with them.
Women voted themselves as better drivers, with 57% saying this was the case. Almost a quarter of men (23%) agree with them.
Statistics and research studies indicate that men are worse drivers than women.
Although there are only 30% more male drivers than female, male drivers are involved in almost twice as many car accidents.
Latest road accident statistics from the Office for National Statistics show that in 2005 almost 172,000 male car drivers were involved in car accidents in which someone was injured, compared with just over 93,000 female drivers.
"Both accident statistics and research of driving behaviour points to the fact that women are generally safer than men when on the road," said Paul Purdy of yesinsurance.co.uk
"Men tend to drive more miles than women over the course of a year, but even when this is taken into account men still come out worst, with a greater risk of undertaking risky manoeuvres and driving at high speed," he said.
Research undertaken in 2005 at Bradford University indicates that the female hormone oestrogen could give women the edge when it comes to safe driving.
The research showed that women are better at shifting their attention from one stimulus to another, making them better at activities such as driving.
The report produced by researchers Amarylis Fox, Dr Kay Marshall and Jo Neill stated that: "Oestrogens may positively influence neuronal activity in the frontal lobes, the area of the brain stimulated by tasks of attention and rule learning."
"The lower risk profile of women, which is reflected in insurance claims experience, means that they can usually obtain cheaper insurance than men," said Paul Purdy.
