Dubai March 7, 2021. To mark the international women’s day on March 8. We want to shed some light on Who are the better drivers, women or men? This question captures the attention around the globe and RoadSafetyUAE wants to share some UAE specific insights. The data was extracted from the ‘UAE Road Safety Monitor’. A long-term perception and attitude research project. Which has been running for the past 6 consecutive years.
Thomas Edelmann, Founder and Managing Director of RoadSafetyUAE explains:
“Female drivers often don’t receive the due appreciation for their driving behavior. Gender prejudice still seems to play a role. However, an overall more careful attitude can be observed while analyzing the behavior of UAE women drivers. In most of the critical dimensions of safe driving. Yet, there are improvement potentials especially with regards to time management. And to a lesser extent seat-belt use, road rage and mobile phone calls. We took the opportunity to dedicate a new topic on our online portal.
Here are the key findings in detail:
Accidents:
Female drivers have been less involved in road accidents than males. Especially when prompted “have you been involved in a road traffic accident in the last 6 months”. For example, the last survey from 2020 shows a 4%-points difference, females (f) 21% vs. males (m) 26%.
Over the last 6 years, we have witnessed significantly lower levels for females. With a maximum of 8%-points difference between female(f) and male(m) UAE drivers.
Indicator use:
More ladies than gentlemen ‘always’ use their indicator when changing lanes. Same for when taking an exit, merging onto a highway, turning at a junction, etc. F:71% m:65%.
Still, as it is the law, we always must use our indicators. As lane swerving remains the #1 cause of death on UAE’s roads. And as this act of reckless driving goes hand in hand with the non-use of indicating.
Child seats (Ownership and usage):
More females own proper child restraint systems – f:79% m:75%. Furthermore, more females use these child restraint systems more often than males f:84% m:70%. However, both these values of ownership and usage must be 100%. As it is the law and simply the best thing to keep our children safe!
Females are less confused about which car seat is the correct one for their children – f:12% m:34%. Females think less that child seats are too expensive f:19% m:26%. Also, they know it’s less safe to keep children on laps of adults – f:17% m:26%. Finally, ladies are much more realistic than men when it comes to the statement ‘no child seats are needed, as I am a safe driver’. F:7% m:25%!.
Road rage:
Females fall less into road rage than males – f:21% m:25%. However, those women drivers who do fall into road rage ‘often’/ ‘sometimes’ do so more than males – f:81% m:70%.
Seat belt usage and attitude – Female drivers:
Females better understand the importance of using seat belts on the front seats – f:94% m:91%. As well as the back seats – f:90% m:86%. And children – f:97% m:93%, which is great news.
However, less women drivers ‘always’ use their seats vs. males – f:70% m:72%. Despite the fact that the law mandates the use of seat belts. And all these values should be at 100%.
Seat belt usage and attitude – Female passengers:
On a positive note, female front-seat passengers ‘always’ use their seat belts more often when they sit in the front as passengers f:81% m:69%. Unfortunately, for back-seat passengers the ‘always’ usage of seat belts is way too low. Both for females and males – f:27% m:27%. Again, it’s the law for all passengers to use seat belts in the UAE.
Tailgating:
Female drivers ‘never’ tailgate more than males – f:67% m:56%. ‘Running late’ is the key reason for ladies to tailgate f:26% m:22%. And it would be good for females to reflect on this. As at the same time they state to get nervous when they themselves get tailgated – f:29% m:23%.
Mobile phone usage:
More female UAE drivers ‘never’ use their mobile phones vs. males – f:36% m:23%. But when they use them, by far the main cause is for incoming calls – f:78% m:73%. As police state, female drivers seem to be more prone to distracted driving. And hence, the use of the mobile phone must be stopped, also to comply with the law.
Speeding:
Less ladies received speeding fines than males – f:20% m:26%. More ladies than gentlemen state to ‘never’ break the official speed limits – f:55% m:47%. ‘Running late’ is stated by female drivers when asked for the main reasons for speed. Which is significantly higher than for males f:70% m:60%.
Time management / running late:
‘Running late’ is a key issue of female drivers. And from various of our research projects, it becomes obvious that this key issue must be addressed! We need to raise awareness for proper time management and for just leaving on-time. Or better a bit earlier for all our road trips.
Females asked for the main reason
- …for speeding, ‘running late’ is labelled to be the main cause – f:70% m:60%.
- …impolite driving, state ‘running late’ is to blame – f:55% m:47%.
- …for their tailgating, state ‘running late’ is the cause – f:26% m:22%.
Need cause of driving & School Runs:
Females perform the school runs significantly more than males – f: 35% m:28%. In general the need for transportation during the typical work week is very similar between males and females. Such as office commute, chores, and entertainment.
Driving Enjoyment:
Female drivers enjoy driving in the UAE less than males, (“strongly agree/agree”). For example in the last survey from 2020 – f:49% m:68%. Showing a 19%-points difference.
Over the last 6 years we have witnessed significantly lower levels for females. With a maximum of 19%-points difference.
The used data were extracted from several waves of the ‘UAE Road Safety Monitor’. A long-term perception and attitude research project which has been running for the last 6 consecutive years. Conducted by YouGov (representative samples of around 1,000 UAE residents per research wave). And commissioned by RoadSafetyUAE jointly with our CSR-Partners Noor Takaful | Ethical Insurance, QIC and Zurich.
About RoadSafetyUAE:
RoadSafetyUAE’s vision is to contribute to reducing the number of road traffic fatalities, injuries and accidents in the UAE. Their mission is to raise the awareness for proper conduct on our roads, in an engaging manner and on a broadly communicated and permanent basis. RoadSafetyUAE’s award-winning platform engages with the stakeholders traffic participants, governmental entities, the media, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) minded partners. ‘Tips & Tricks’ are the content backbone, provided for more than 60 topics of road safety, all specifically relevant to the UAE. More information can be found on www.RoadSafetyUAE.com
For further information, please contact:
Thomas Edelmann
Founder and Managing Director
RoadSafetyUAE
Mob: +971 50 55 19 216
