'Caveman complex' blamed for male driving trends
Date: 21/04/2008 12:00:00
A new study looking at the differences between the sexes and the impact that has on car insurance risk has suggested that men remain cavemen deep down.
Sex Differences in Driving and Insurance Risk by Professor Geoffrey Beattie, head of psychological sciences at the University of Manchester, has offered that men have a Fred Flintstone impulse, which leads them to commit the majority of traffic offences.
"The human brain evolved to meet the requirements of the huntergatherer that existed for 99 per cent of our evolution as a species," Professor Beattie outlined in his report.
"This has a very significant impact on driving by encouraging more competitive and hostile behaviour with consequent higher probabilities of having an accident."
Women were found to be more accepting of other people's viewpoint and therefore less likely to drive irresponsibly, the research found.
The report has been passed to the House of Commons transport committee, with the group considering the findings this week.
According to Home Office figures for the period 1999 to 2003, male drivers accounted for 94 per cent of all accidents involving death or bodily harm.