The AA has done quite a lot of research on the subject of motoring convictions as related to gender. Among all of the motorists on the road, approximately 18% have been convicted of some sort of motoring offence; however in that 18%, the number of men found guilty of an offence was far higher than the number of women – about one and a half times higher.
The trend, however, is changing. Ten years ago the conviction rate among women was 11%; according to the latest studies that rate has risen to 15 %. With men the rate has risen by only 3% in the same time period, from 17% ten years ago to 20% at present.
Statistics recently reported by the Department of Transport indicate that men travel 20% further than women, on average, compared to the 2002 statistics showing men travelling 40% further than women. Simon Douglas, the AA’s motor insurance director, suggests that the change in related travel times accounts for the smaller difference in conviction rates.
According to the AA, men have historically had a higher rate of traffic offences than women, particularly among the age group from 17 to 20 years. For this reason male drivers generally pay a higher rate for motoring insurance. The AA reports that the current rates for men are still well over those paid by women, in some cases even twice as much.
