Women safer drivers than men, House told

Press, 11 August 1979, Page 2

Women safer drivers than men, House told

PA J Wellington Women were safer drivers than nrn, Parliament was told yesterday. Women had, on average, slightly fewer .accidents than, men. The difference was most marked during the most accident-prone age of 15 to 2#, when women had signriScantiy fewer accidents, said the Leader of the House (Mr Thomson). He was replying on behalf of the Minister of

Transport (Mr McLachlan) to a question by the member for Waipa (Miss Marilyn Waring). She wanted to know if there was statistical evidence to support an assertion by the retiring senior chief traffic officer at Auckland, Mr L. Jones, that “women drivers were a lot worse than men in most respects.” Mr Thomson said that at first glance the trafficsafety record of women was considerably better than men. “But when the

amount of travelling time and the types of vehicle used are taken into account, this advantage is less pronounced,” he said. “While indications are that women are not as safe as men when riding motor-cycles, their over-all safety record is derived from the fact that women do most of their driving in cars.” Statistics showed that women bus drivers also had fewer and less severe accidents, Mr Thomson said.