Are Women Better Drivers Than Men in California?

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There is a commonly held stereotype that women are bad drivers. This stereotype is recognized by most females at an early age and can have serious repercussions.

A study published in the Accident Analysis & Prevention journal found that women who are told about the “bad driver” stereotype drive worse in driver simulations than women who are not told about the stereotype.

All of this begs the question: Are women actually worse drivers than men?

Who causes more accidents in Los Angeles?

According to traffic collision data collected from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), roughly 60 percent of car accidents in Los Angeles County are caused by men, whereas women cause roughly 40 percent of car accidents.

To be more specific, men caused 264,078 car accidents in Los Angeles County between 2010 and 2019, whereas women caused only 171,343 car accidents during that same period.

It’s true that there are more male drivers in Los Angeles County than female drivers, but the difference is minimal. Men make up approximately 51 percent of registered drivers in Los Angeles County.

Who causes more accidents across the country?

There’s no data that tracks whether men or women cause more car accidents across the country. However, the available evidence does suggest that men are by far worse drivers than women.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) looked at data from the U.S. Department of Transportation and found the following interesting statistics regarding gender and driving:

• From 2000 to 2020, male crash deaths were more than double female crash deaths.
• Every year, men are involved in more serious car crashes than women.
• Men are more likely to engage in risky driving practices, including not using seat belts, driving while impaired, and speeding.
• The percentage of men cited with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.08% (the legal limit) or above has been significantly higher than the percentage of women each year since 1982.

Still not convinced?

According to a study conducted by Quality Planning, a company that validates policyholder information for auto insurers, men are 3.4 times more likely than women to get a ticket for reckless driving and 3.1. times more likely to get a ticket for drunk driving.

All in all, the Quality Plan study concluded that women in the U.S. are 27% less likely to be found at fault when involved in a car crash.

Women don’t just appear to be better drivers in the U.S. According to a British study published in the Journal of Injury Prevention, men were involved in twice as many fatal car crashes per mile driven as women.

Can car insurance companies charge men more than women for auto insurance in California?

In 2019, California became the seventh state to prohibit auto insurers from using gender as a factor when calculating the rates customers pay. The other states that don’t allow auto insurers to consider gender are Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

To put it simply, auto insurers in California can’t charge men more than women for car insurance just because they’re men.

Instead, insurance companies in California use a host of other factors to determine your auto insurance rate, including:

• Age
• Driving record
• Coverage selections
• Deductible amount
• Claim history
• Car make and model
• Zip code

Many auto insurance companies in California have begun to use technology that monitors driver behavior (called “telematics”) to calculate a driver’s rate. In most cases, participants simply download an app that tracks their driving behavior (speed, braking, miles driven, etc.). After a certain period of time— typically around 90 days—the rate will be calculated.

Should I talk to a California car accident lawyer?

Regardless of your gender, it’s a good idea to talk with a lawyer after a car accident. If you suffered minor injuries or minor property damage, you might be able to file an insurance claim and receive the compensation you deserve without involving a California personal injury attorney.

However, if any of the following are true, it’s a good idea to meet with an experienced car accident attorney near you:

• You suffered serious physical injuries or property loss
• The other driver was uninsured
• The insurance company denies your claim or offers less than you deserve
• The car accident was a multi-vehicle accident

At MVP Accident Attorneys, initial consultations are always FREE.