We have discussed the FACT that some insurers regard women drivers as safer drivers and are willing to allow them a reduced premium for car insurance. But can they park – and more specifically perform parallel parking?
A UK insurance company has found that women are far more scared of parallel parking in public than men. The survey questioned both men and women on their fears and emotional well-being when having to park in public with others observing their driving skills!
According to the survey, the chances are the driver breaking out in a self-conscious sweat at the wheel will be a woman. They are particularly prone to becoming flustered when parallel parking – reversing a car into a tight kerbside space.
Three-quarters of women drivers admitted that backing into a space is sometimes too tricky even when there really is enough room. More than one in five admits they are hopeless under any circumstances and that compares to only nine percent of men.
But how many drivers were surveyed?
The survey of 4200 drivers – 1428 men and 2772 women – by motor insurer elephant.co.uk supported the adage that parking is a masculine strength and that women might not be as spatially aware as men.
Seventy-five percent of women say parking was more difficult when being watched; only 47 percent of men conceded stage fright at the wheel. It could however be that the male pride and ego could account for so few men admitting to stage fright…
In another interesting research study by the Automobile Association in the UK found that 34 percent of drivers would fail on parallel parking if forced to retake their driving test. Perhaps the fear expressed by our female drivers is not so unfounded…
We know that women are viewed as the safer or more responsible drivers…but perhaps they might need to park in a safer spot a bit further away if they are to avoid those unnecessary car insurance claims for side-swipe or fender bender accidents while parking!!!
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