The Facts and Figures: Why Male Learners are more likely to pass their Test First Time
The statistics have been released by the Government’s Driving Standard Agency (DSA), and they claim that men learn to drive at a far faster rate than women. As a consequence of this, they are also more likely to pass their driving test first-time, with 48% of male learners achieving this goal in comparison with just 44% of women. While this may seem like little more than a statistical anomaly, it does little to diffuse the ancient and largely inaccurate perception that females are not as comfortable behind the wheel as their male counterparts.
To exacerbate this issue, there is also the fact that women take an estimated eight months to pass their practical driving test, compared to just six months for men. The difference between these two statistics is far more definitive, with male drivers clearly taking greater confidence and ability out onto the road when they get behind the wheel. Interestingly, women are far more competitive when it comes to taking their theory examination, which suggests that they have greater aptitude for book based and sensory learning techniques.
An Issue of Confidence?
In order the get to the bottom of this, it may be worth addressing the role of self-confidence in succeeding when out on the road. According to the same report, 39% of males who learn to drive already believe that they are better motorists than women, meaning that their levels of self-belief far outweigh their rivals. So regardless of whether such an opinion is unfounded or otherwise, it is clear that this superior sense of assurance and self-confidence is having a positive impact on the level of aptitude shown by male drivers and the insurance premiums that they can access through providers such as AXA.