Men and women see themselves differently on the road. A recent study of 2,000 motorists found 86% of men rated themselves as safe drivers, compared with 78% of women. Confidence clearly leans male, but it masks a harsh reality: men are responsible for the majority of serious and fatal crashes.
Statistics consistently show men take more risks, speeding, drunk driving, and aggressive maneuvers making them far likelier to be involved in deadly accidents. In 2022 alone, men accounted for about 70% of all drivers in fatal crashes, including 92% of car driver deaths and 70% of pedestrian fatalities.
Yet women are not without struggle. Though they cause fewer serious accidents, women are more likely to be seriously injured or killed in crashes of similar severity. This grim fact ties to issues like smaller vehicle sizes, being more often the struck party, and seat belts designed primarily for male physiques.
Men’s self-assurance is a double-edged sword. The study reveals they’re twice as likely as women to claim they’re “very confident,” which fuels risky behavior that costs lives. Women, meanwhile, tend to drive more cautiously and are often better behind the wheel, scoring higher in measures of parking, navigation, and accident avoidance.
On average, men drive more miles, increasing their exposure, but per mile driven, fatal crash rates for men remain roughly 1.5 times higher than women’s, confirming that risk not distance is the culprit.
The takeaway? Confidence behind the wheel must come with restraint. Closing the gap between perceived and actual competence could save thousands of lives each year.