‘Stone Age’ male drivers have more expensive accidents
Car insurance claims by men are costlier than claims by female drivers because they often act like ‘stone-age’ men behind the wheel, according to research by online car insurer swiftcover.com. That’s why men usually face higher insurance premiums despite claiming to be better drivers than women.
swiftcover’s own data reveals:
• Male drivers accounted for 52% of the total claims costs in 2008, despite actually making fewer claims
• Women accounted for 48% of total claims costs, despite making 52 % of claims
Women tend to make lower value claims for small knocks and scratches, whilst men claim more for larger more expensive incidents. As a result men can pay almost £504 more for their insurance compared with women of the same age, vehicle and personal circumstances.
Men are more likely to make more costly claims because evidence shows they take more risks on the road, according to research collated by swiftcover.com.
• Men are twice as likely to speed in a 30mph zone1
• Men are three times more likely to speed on motorways and rural roads1
• Men are four times more likely to be convicted of speeding offences2
• Men are nine times more likely to be convicted of driving offences2
A study by Oxford academics3 suggests that the reason male drivers take more risks is because they are more aggressive due to survival instincts developed by stone-age man; these behavioural traits are still evident today when men defend their territory – their cars – from other drivers on the road.
Craig Staniland, underwriting director at swiftcover.com explains: “Insurance data never lies! Even though men reckon they are better drivers, the reality is that they have more expensive insurance claims, are more likely than women to speed, and are responsible for many more traffic convictions than women – which pushes up the cost of insurance.
“The solution is simple – calm down behind the wheel and drive more safely and responsibly. You will have fewer claims and clock up a bigger no claims bonus that will help bring your insurance costs way down. Driving aggressively means that you will always be out of pocket when it comes to your motoring expenses.”
A study by the Oxford based Social Issues Research Centre, entitled ‘Sex Differences in Driving and Insurance Risk’3, makes the link between the aggressive behaviour of male motorists and stone age survival traits.
In addition the report says that the difference in risk between male and female drivers is greater amongst younger men because for many a car is their first independent space away from home and they are more likely to defend it with aggressive and potentially dangerous behaviour. The difference in risk between men and women lessens as men get older.
This theory is borne out by figures that show that men are responsible for more driving and speeding offences than women, whilst male drivers are far-more likely to break the speed limit than female motorists.
Brake’s Road Safety Research, 2009
Men Women
1 in 3 drive at 35mph or faster in 30mph zones 1 in 7 drive at 35mph or faster in 30mph zones
1 in 5 break the speed limit on motorways 1 in 14 break the speed limit on motorways
1 in 5 drive over 60mph on rural roads 1 in 16 drive over 60mph on rural roads
2Ministry of Justice Statistics for 2006
Men Women
Responsible for 80% of speeding offences Responsible for 20% of speeding offences
Responsible for 90% of driving offences Responsible for 10% of driving offences
Why are men are considered a higher risk?
• Men are more likely to take risks – research shows there is a positive correlation between sensation seeking and testosterone levels, which could explain why men tend to take more risks when driving3. According to the road safety charity Brake1, men admit to much more risky and sensation seeking patterns of driving.
• Men break more rules - Government statistics show that men are responsible for more traffic offences and rule breaking on the roads2, leading to an increased risk of accidents and penalty points, both of which can push up insurance premiums.
• Young men are most at risk – According to Brake’s research1, those under the age of 21 are ten times more likely to die on the road than other motorists.
• Young men have more convictions – Although males aged between 17 and 20 make up just 3% of drivers, they account for a third of dangerous driving convictions2.
• Young men see their car as their space – As it’s their first independent space away from the family home, they are therefore more likely to defend it with dangerous or aggressive behaviour3.
• Men have higher mileage – Annual mileage for men is 9,335, seven per cent higher than women at 8,711 a year. Simply put, the more you drive, the more likely you are to make a claim, so the risk and insurance premium increases.
4Male premiums compared with female premiums for drivers aged 27 with the same circumstances driving a Ford Focus, with a full no claims bonus
Location Male Price Female Price Price difference
Aberdeen £220 £197 £23
Birmingham £468 £419 £49
East London £371 £333 £38
Liverpool £439 £393 £46
swiftcover.com is the UK’s only fully online insurance company without time-wasting call centres, so it is able to provide quotes in 60 seconds and keep insurance costs down.
-ENDS-
For press enquiries please contact:
Joshua Van Raalte or Paul Beadle
Brazil (PR agency for swiftcover.com)
01865 556 000
swiftcover@agencybrazil.com