Are Men or Women More Likely to Be Involved in a Fatal Crash?

Gender may play a bigger role than you would expect in looking at the safety of drivers on the road

A recent study, which used data from the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), found that male drivers are involved in over half of fatal crashes in the United States. The study, conducted by Insurancequotes.com, reviewed traffic fatality statistics from 2014-2015. 32,675 people died in vehicle crashes in 2014. In 2015, 35,092 people were fatally injured in crashes. In some states, men were overwhelmingly involved in fatal crashes. Male drivers were involved in 82.7 percent of fatal crashes in North Dakota and 82 percent in South Dakota.

While the study reveals some surprising statistics as far as male drivers involvement in fatal crashes is concerned, the idea and supporting information that male drivers tend to be riskier on the roads than female drivers is nothing new. For years, insurance companies have been charging men higher rates for car insurance than women. A study conducted by Insweb revealed that women pay about 9 percent less for auto insurance than men.

The Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute, which gathers and analyzes data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, agrees with these claims and states that, each year, more men than women tend to die on the road. This is attributed, in part, by the following:

• Men usually drive more miles than women.
• Men are more likely not to use seatbelts.
• Men are more likely to drive under the influence of alcohol.
• Men are more likely to speed and exhibit other unsafe driving practices.

A study conducted by the research company Quality Planning also stated that women tend to be less aggressive and more likely to obey the laws of the road than men. These general differences in driving styles is putting men at fatal risk on the road. The study also showed that crashes with male drivers tend to be more severe than those involving female drivers.