Women drivers overtaking men

Have you noticed any of the changes they made to the cabin? We are trying.

Have you noticed any of the changes they made to the cabin? We are trying.

Published Dec 3, 2012

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The number of new drivers is rising twice as quickly among women as it is among men. Not only that, but the number of kilometres women drive each year is rising as men drive fewer.

A study compiled for the RAC Foundation shows that between 1995 and 2010 the number of UK women with a driving licence grew by 23 percent, a rise of 2.6 million to 13.8 million. Among men, however, the number grew by only nine percent, up 1.4 million to 16.3 million.

That trend is likely to continue because the sharpest drop in driving is among men in their twenties. The number aged 20 to 29 holding a licence was down 300 000 to 2.4 million, a fall of 11 percent.

WOMEN ON THE MOVE

The report, written by a team led by Professor Peter Jones and Dr Scott Le Vine of London’s Imperial College, also highlights how between 1995 and 2010 the average annual distance driven by women rose by 766km to 4736km, up 19 percent. By contrast, the average annual distance covered by male drivers dropped by 2077km to 8886km - a fall of 19 percent.

RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said: “Over the years women have swapped the passenger seat for the driver’s seat. They are increasingly leading independent lives with more and more of them going to work, getting married later, if at all, and delaying having children.

“Women are on the move like never before and it is the car that is getting them about.” - Daily Mail

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