Main Causes of Men's Car Wrecks

Risk-Taking

Although it's a common stereotype that men are better drivers than women, men have a greater history of accidents on the road. Men have a 70 percent higher likelihood of having a serious car wreck, According to Car-Accidents.com. Several factors contribute to this including risk-taking behaviors, aggressiveness and alcohol consumption. Claims Magazine stated in 2007 that men received 3.41 times more citations for reckless driving than women. Reckless driving behavior most commonly means speeding, but it can also mean not observing right-of-way rules or trying to drive through a yellow traffic light.

Road Rage

Risky driving behavior sometimes manifests itself in road rage, a condition in which drivers take their frustrations on the roadway or escalate a conflict on the road with another driver who committed a traffic infraction against them. In the most severe cases, cutting someone off in traffic can lead to a fatal stabbing or shooting. Aggressive men seldom ignore such offenses.

Drunk Driving

In 2007, 626,371 men were involved in fatal drunk driving accidents, approximately four times the number of women, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Alcohol affects the reflexes and coupled with increased aggressiveness, this makes for a dangerous combination. Alcohol also impairs judgment and perception.

References

• Car-Accidents.com - Statistics
• Claims Mag - Study Shows Gender Differences in Car Accidents
• MSNBC - 2007 Drunk Driving Statistics