Driving Tests: Why are more men passing than women?
Discussion
I saw this, I particularly liked the suggestion that essentially women should be allowed a pass even if they can't drive satisfactorily, because hormones:
"Also, there should be more consideration on how hormones affect driving. Tasks involving co-ordination and dexterity are more difficult when oestrogen is low and this can impact things like driving."
What an absolute gem; "Yes I hit that kerb/car/pedestrian but you can't fail me because it was my hormones".
Jesus. People really do struggle with taking responsibility for things these days, don't they...
"Also, there should be more consideration on how hormones affect driving. Tasks involving co-ordination and dexterity are more difficult when oestrogen is low and this can impact things like driving."
What an absolute gem; "Yes I hit that kerb/car/pedestrian but you can't fail me because it was my hormones".
Jesus. People really do struggle with taking responsibility for things these days, don't they...
Edited by Southerner on Monday 25th July 17:38
What would a solution to the hormones point be? Isn't discriminating based on gender something we're trying to get away from? And if you accommodate hormonal changes in driving tests, surely you'd have to accommodate it in licences and insurances too? That's a massive can of worms for something I've never heard anyone else mention.
I'd say a sense of confidence helps male drivers as well as probably something to do with physiology. Aren't men typically better at loads of physical activities, where women are typically better at emotive and mental based activities? Might all be hokum I've read on the Internet, mind you.
I'd say a sense of confidence helps male drivers as well as probably something to do with physiology. Aren't men typically better at loads of physical activities, where women are typically better at emotive and mental based activities? Might all be hokum I've read on the Internet, mind you.
HustleRussell said:
Easy. The reason men are more likely to pass is the same reason that they are more likely to have a serious accident- a relative surfeit of confidence.
Quite possibly so. Enough confidence to pass, then too much confidence after. Kind of supports my thoughts about a follow-up test between 2 and 3 years after passing, and then every 5-10 years. I know we have a shortage of examiners and instructors, but …Southerner said:
I saw this, I particularly liked the suggestion that essentially women should be allowed a pass even if they can't drive satisfactorily, because hormones:
"Also, there should be more consideration on how hormones affect driving. Tasks involving co-ordination and dexterity are more difficult when oestrogen is low and this can impact things like driving."
What an absolute gem; "Yes I hit that kerb/car/pedestrian but you can't fail me because it was my hormones".
Jesus. People really do struggle with taking responsibility for things these days, don't they...
I don’t see how you got to (your, nobody else’s) suggestion in your first sentence to your summary paragraph two (not the actual comment in the article)."Also, there should be more consideration on how hormones affect driving. Tasks involving co-ordination and dexterity are more difficult when oestrogen is low and this can impact things like driving."
What an absolute gem; "Yes I hit that kerb/car/pedestrian but you can't fail me because it was my hormones".
Jesus. People really do struggle with taking responsibility for things these days, don't they...
Edited by Southerner on Monday 25th July 17:38
Ice_blue_tvr said:
Imagine a male driving instructor made this comment!
"They [males] will start to do things straight away. With a female, five hours later, you are still coping with the same problem."
I was thinking that, slightly odd that the bluntly worded sexist remarks came from the female instructor. "They [males] will start to do things straight away. With a female, five hours later, you are still coping with the same problem."
My initial thought to the title was, I bet there are more male instructor than female.
I would expect that number of male driver's who have had a go on the parent drive was small, but maybe not? Maybe they have done more things like karting and quad bike hire? Not sure.
Ice_blue_tvr said:
Imagine a male driving instructor made this comment!
"They [males] will start to do things straight away. With a female, five hours later, you are still coping with the same problem."
"They [males] will start to do things straight away. With a female, five hours later, you are still coping with the same problem."
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
dhutch said:
Ice_blue_tvr said:
Imagine a male driving instructor made this comment!
"They [males] will start to do things straight away. With a female, five hours later, you are still coping with the same problem."
I was thinking that, slightly odd that the bluntly worded sexist remarks came from the female instructor. "They [males] will start to do things straight away. With a female, five hours later, you are still coping with the same problem."
Without her balance, the article seems to be suggesting that the target should be to ensure that the pass rate of females should be equal to that of males, implying that special provisions or allowances should be made to achieve this.
The driving test should be exactly what it is- a nationally standardised assessment to ensure that prospective drivers can demonstrate that they meet the required standard.
That said, I do have sympathy for young women who are unfortunate enough that the test, booked as they are many months in advance, happens to coincide with her period. Whether they attempt and fail the test, or postpone it, it is a long wait currently for a re-test. I would not mind at all if a mechanism existed to allow women to defer the test and secure a preferential re-book in this case. If implemented at scale, it wouldn't need to disadvantage anybody- it's just a bit of extra work for the test centres to administrate. Also, whether or not women would exercise the option to defer or not is a tricky one. Then again it does not take long for something like this to become the norm. Again it requires awareness, maturity and joined-up thinking on the part of the test centres.
Pica-Pica said:
Southerner said:
I saw this, I particularly liked the suggestion that essentially women should be allowed a pass even if they can't drive satisfactorily, because hormones:
"Also, there should be more consideration on how hormones affect driving. Tasks involving co-ordination and dexterity are more difficult when oestrogen is low and this can impact things like driving."
What an absolute gem; "Yes I hit that kerb/car/pedestrian but you can't fail me because it was my hormones".
Jesus. People really do struggle with taking responsibility for things these days, don't they...
I don’t see how you got to (your, nobody else’s) suggestion in your first sentence to your summary paragraph two (not the actual comment in the article)."Also, there should be more consideration on how hormones affect driving. Tasks involving co-ordination and dexterity are more difficult when oestrogen is low and this can impact things like driving."
What an absolute gem; "Yes I hit that kerb/car/pedestrian but you can't fail me because it was my hormones".
Jesus. People really do struggle with taking responsibility for things these days, don't they...
Male or female, if somebody cannot demonstrate during a driving test that they can reach the required standard, then they categorically should not be passing the test. If this is due to a medical reason, temporary or permanent, they still shouldn't be passing the test. Otherwise, do away with the test or lower the pass mark for everybody.
Edited by Southerner on Wednesday 27th July 00:46
Confidence.
My wife now drives the exact same car I did 2 years after passing my test. I had a 208GTI 2 years after passing and she also now has a 208GTI 2 years after passing.
I passed first time whereas she took 3 attempts.
I wrote the car off within 6 months of owning it. She on the other hand has been driving it for 18 months without incident.
Extra confidence meant test was easier but also that I had to learn a hard lesson. Her confidence meant she found the test harder but also didn't think she was Colin McRea after passing.
My wife now drives the exact same car I did 2 years after passing my test. I had a 208GTI 2 years after passing and she also now has a 208GTI 2 years after passing.
I passed first time whereas she took 3 attempts.
I wrote the car off within 6 months of owning it. She on the other hand has been driving it for 18 months without incident.
Extra confidence meant test was easier but also that I had to learn a hard lesson. Her confidence meant she found the test harder but also didn't think she was Colin McRea after passing.
Not where I work it’s not. I’m a hgv instructor (so slightly different) and under my supervision anyway, no females have ever failed - we have a lot go through on the 7.5 ton C1 licence.
One thing that’s very noticeable is that when teaching females they actually listen, take on board what you’re saying and actually do it all without forgetting. Teaching males on the other hand can be an absolute pain, a lot of the time males feel like they have something to prove and just won’t except their driving is crap.
One thing that’s very noticeable is that when teaching females they actually listen, take on board what you’re saying and actually do it all without forgetting. Teaching males on the other hand can be an absolute pain, a lot of the time males feel like they have something to prove and just won’t except their driving is crap.
My wife is an excellent driver, her dad was a Motorsport fantatic, has owned loads of Ferraris, Aston’s etc. she, her sister and brother all passed first time as they were driving enthusiasts, who grew up with cars. My two brothers and I grew up in a house whose family business was road haulage, we all were desperate to get our first licenses and all passed first time.
My point is that people who are motoring enthusiasts are more likely to pass first time. This is why I think the manual pass rate is higher than auto.
Of course there are lots of women who are keen motorists, and I highly suspect their pass rates are similar to men with the same interest, but more men have a passion for motoring generally.
Also some people just take lessons and tests because they have to or think they need to, and maybe more of these are women compared to men. I guess these are the ones who struggle to pass
My point is that people who are motoring enthusiasts are more likely to pass first time. This is why I think the manual pass rate is higher than auto.
Of course there are lots of women who are keen motorists, and I highly suspect their pass rates are similar to men with the same interest, but more men have a passion for motoring generally.
Also some people just take lessons and tests because they have to or think they need to, and maybe more of these are women compared to men. I guess these are the ones who struggle to pass
mersontheperson said:
My wife is an excellent driver, her dad was a Motorsport fantatic, has owned loads of Ferraris, Aston’s etc. she, her sister and brother all passed first time as they were driving enthusiasts, who grew up with cars. My two brothers and I grew up in a house whose family business was road haulage, we all were desperate to get our first licenses and all passed first time.
My point is that people who are motoring enthusiasts are more likely to pass first time. This is why I think the manual pass rate is higher than auto.
Of course there are lots of women who are keen motorists, and I highly suspect their pass rates are similar to men with the same interest, but more men have a passion for motoring generally.
Also some people just take lessons and tests because they have to or think they need to, and maybe more of these are women compared to men. I guess these are the ones who struggle to pass
So you think driving an auto means you are not a motoring enthusiast! Rather a sweeping (& wrong) statement. My point is that people who are motoring enthusiasts are more likely to pass first time. This is why I think the manual pass rate is higher than auto.
Of course there are lots of women who are keen motorists, and I highly suspect their pass rates are similar to men with the same interest, but more men have a passion for motoring generally.
Also some people just take lessons and tests because they have to or think they need to, and maybe more of these are women compared to men. I guess these are the ones who struggle to pass
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