We've come a long way. We’ve closed the gender gap in the corporate world, proved that domesticity isn’t synonymous with ‘female’, and in some cases, even got the opposite sex to clean up their act. Isn’t that reason to feel smug? Well yes, and no. If there’s one place where most people don’t think women don’t quite measure up, it’s when we’re behind the wheel. Why is it a common misconception that women are bad drivers? Why is it that women are considered poor navigators, and not competent to steer a mean machine?
Here are some facts to get all you women drivers noticed: Reality is that women are better drivers than men. While males like to step on the gas and speed along fast lanes, we prefer to cruise at a restful pace (unless afflicted with road rage). So what we think is careful is considered slow by men. CAUTION IN MOTION Research shows that in terms of total annual count of drivers killed every year, men top the list. People may dispute this fact by saying that most drivers in our country are male. But here’s a counter argument: Of the existing women drivers, most have never had serious road accidents. Dr Narendra Kinger, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, has another view: “There are multiple factors - not just male or female drivers. They include good roads, driving skills of the person, street lighting, the level of education and technical understanding of the driver. If you consider these factors, you cannot generalise that male or female drivers are better.” This brings us back to square one: Are those sexist yarns about women having trouble changing gears true? “Not really,” says Antara Beri, an avid motoring fanatic, “I think driving is a matter of individual behaviour; so we can’t say that men drive better or vice versa. I think a teenage guy driving a car could be as distracted as a woman driver with a bunch of kids inside the car. It’s all in the mind.” DRIVING STEADY For now, let’s eschew the lib lingo and drill into the details of women at the wheel. Research has it that both men and women may have their own limitations. Dr Nirmala Rao, psychiatrist at Aavishkar Psychiatric Clinic in Mumbai, says, “Women don’t have the need to show off and are more caring than men while driving.” Women are also not very prone to road rage and rarely drive after drinking. Dr Kinger says, “Road rage and drunken driving are manifestations of risk-taking. Men are more likely to slip up here, as they are programmed to be more indifferent to the risk factor than women.” Women also tend to abide by traffic rules and avoid hazardous stunts. You’ll rarely find a woman driver zipping past a red signal or zooming around setting roads on fire. Feminine natural instincts combined with the commandeering position definitely goes in favour of the woman driver. EAST OR WEST? As drivers, women are good, but there is some speculation about the female sense of orientation. Studies show that women, being right-brained, do not have very keen spatial perception. This however, is not applicable to all women despite those snide jokes of women not being able to find their way around, or not being able to judge the angle required for making a turn. The reason for the caustic comment, obviously by men, could be because men have left-brain dominance and hence the assmption that they have more spatial sense. Here’s some food for thought: Women may drive in slow mo, but going slow is a zillion times more attractive than the prospect of soon becoming non-existent. We don’t rely on cheap thrills for a rush of adrenalin. When we get behind the wheel, we mean business; we’re not living for the moment, we’re driving to our destinations. ZIP ZAP ZOOM! Six reasons why women are better drivers: * Women are not too proud to ask for directions. (Besides, when we ask, we’re usually assured of a response.) * Women don’t spew expletives with the frequency with which they change gears. * A woman behind the wheel usually gets more attention that a man. (Interpret it the way you want). * Women don’t get spurred into a testosterone-packed chase because some suicidal road hog injures our egos. * Women don’t usually drive like dervishes after downing barrelfuls of beer. * Women don’t consider it a personal affront when a learner overtakes them.