Women drivers 'more law abiding'

Women drivers are safer and more law abiding than their male counterparts, committing only 12% of all driving offences, government figures show.

According to Home Office 2002 figures for England and Wales, men committed almost all the most serious offences such as causing death.

Women fared worst when it came to obstruction, waiting and parking, being responsible for 23% of cases in 2002.

From 1998-2002, the share of motoring offences by women rose just 1%.

Driving offences by women Dangerous driving 3% Causing death or bodily harm 6% Drink-driving 11% Careless driving 15% Speed limit 17% Obstruction, waiting and parking offences 23% *Source: Home Office figures for England and Wales in 2002

The Home Office figures showed a 2% increase in female offences relating to driving with excess alcohol or drugs in the system, from 9% in 1998 to 11% of the 2002 total.

Women's share of speeding offences also increased, rising from 13% in 1998 to 17% in 2002.

Men were responsible for 96% of vehicle thefts and 97% or offences in relation to motorcycles.

Even worse

Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the AA Motoring Trust, said there were arguments that could make male drivers look even worse.

Mr Howard said in the vast majority of couples the male got behind the wheel on long journeys.

"On motorways and A1 roads accident rates are much, much lower than they are around town.

"In reality men should be better still. People send their wives out in places where you are more likely to have an accident."

Mr Howard said many men tended to have a competitive streak when it came to driving that did not seem to exist between women, and were more likely to have high speed and overtaking accidents.

But the difference between the sexes tended to lessen with age, he added.