Alabama
Ever want to pull a Stevie Wonder and drive while you can’t see? Sure we’ve all thought of driving with blindfolds on, but alas in Alabama this practice is illegal. We’re not sure who thought this law was necessary, but then again this is the Deep South.

Alaska
If you’re prone to animal abuse, Alaska is not the state for you. Turns out it’s illegal to tie your dog to the roof rack of your car. Best to save your dogs for sledding.

Arizona
If you’re speeding by and happen to see a parking spot fly by, don’t even think about backing up to snag the spot. Driving in reverse is against the law here, so make sure you get it right the first time.

Arkansas
Jonesing for a refreshing beverage and some nosh? You can go through a drive-thru or stop at a convenience store, but if you honk your horn at some less than stellar driver you may get a ticket. It’s illegal to honk a car horn anywhere cold beverages and sandwiches are being served after 9 pm. So honk all you want during the day, just keep your road rage to yourself at night or you might disturb the peace.

California
If you find yourself being kidnapped, don’t jump from moving car if it’s moving at 65 miles an hour. Even if you find yourself stuck with a man-eating lizard or some such other creature, still do not jump out. You will most likely get a ticket. Also illegal? Shooting animals from a moving vehicle. Try to at least stop first.

Connecticut
Hungry while driving? Put the snacks away! In Bloomfield, CT, it’s against the law to eat in your car. Like California, shooting animals is also illegal in Connecticut. Who knew hunting while driving was such a popular sport? Go figure.

Georgia
Hey spitters! While you’re in Marietta, keep your phlegm to yourself. You may get a ticket if you spit out of your car or a bus. But truckers, feel free to spit away. Spitting from a truck is A-OK.

Idaho
Lusty teenagers, (and adults), unite! If you’re engaged in a little hanky-panky, police officers are totally within in their rights to investigate. However, they have to honk first or flash their lights and wait approximately three minutes before checking out the situation. If they don’t you might just beat the charges.

Illinois
Quick change operators beware; it’s illegal to change your clothes in a car with the curtains drawn. So if you decide to change your clothes in a car make sure you are fully visible to everyone and their mother. In Park Ridge, remember to park your truck in a garage because you’re not allowed to park it outside.

Kansas
Craving KFC? Be careful when driving through Topeka. It’s illegal to transport dead poultry, so if you plan on bringing home chicken, do it on the DL.

Maryland
Anyone with a mouth like a sailor will have to keep their mouths shut when driving through Rockville, MD. Swearing while in a vehicle is considered a misdemeanor. So wash your mouth out with soap and hope that any police officers passing by can’t read lips.

Minnesota
Make sure you don’t get stuck in any muddy rainstorms or happen to roll over any gum while driving your truck in Minnetonka. They will gladly give you a ticket if your car leaves any dirt on the road.

New York
Should you find yourself rubbing elbows with the rich and famous in the Hamptons, please remember not to take your clothes off in the car. It’s illegal in the tony town of Sag Harbor. Make sure your outfit looks cute before you leave the house.

North Carolina
It sounds tempting, but if you feel the urge to drive on the sidewalk while in Dunn keep in mind that it’s illegal.

Ohio
Forgetful types might do best to stay out of Youngstown. Running out of gas in this town can get you a ticket, so forget about calling the cops or roadside assistance.

Oregon
Maybe you can’t drive on the sidewalks in Dunn, North Carolina, but you most certainly can in Oregon. Just remember to yield to pedestrians. If you don’t, you may snag yourself a ticket. You’re also not allowed to leave your car door open longer than necessary, whatever that means. Parents with small children, good luck.

Rhode Island
Good old signals aren’t good enough in Rhode Island. The law states that you must give the other cars an “audible signal” if you are passing them. Perhaps a bullhorn or honking loudly would work? Seems a little barbaric.

South Carolina
Dirty birds throw that trash out before you get to Hilton Head. Sure you may have just driven into town from a 12-hour road trip or finished chowing on a burger, but don’t leave that trash in your car. Leaving debris in your car is illegal. Get thee to a garbage can and maybe a car wash while you’re at it.

So there you have it, the craziest traffic laws in the land of the free and home of the brave. Let it inform your next road trip. If nothing else you can impress your friends with your stellar knowledge of traffic laws across the country

According to a study published in a Swedish Psychology journal (Acta Psychologica) a whopping 93% of Americans consider themselves above average drivers. The sample consisted of students, and while the study was conducted in multiple countries, it because obvious that Americans saw themselves as even better drivers than their Swedish counterparts.  The Swedish came in at a much lower 69%.

In another similar study by McCormick, Walkey and Green (1986) drivers rated them 80% above average.

The problem with rating ourselves is that since few of us our trained expert drivers (e.g. rac-ecar drivers) , it is hard to measure our real ability compared to everyone else. This is known as “illusory superiority” in the social-psychology world.

This doesn’t just occur with driving, but with just about every other part of our life, whether its estimating our IQ, rating our own popularity compared to our friends, or guessing how well we get along with others (25% of people believe they are in the top 1% of “how easy they think they get along with others, compared to their peers”).  Even smart people are wrong: “87% of MBA students at Stanford University rated their academic performance as above the median”

And remember the flip-side of this. Anyone that drives faster than you is a manic, and anyone that drives slower than you simply does not know how to drive, proving once again that YOU are turly and average driver.  Seriously, think about it for a moment…

Sources:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0001691881900056
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0001457586900047

1. Being a Celebrity: Fame and Fortune Brings Traffic Citations, Accidents, and DUI’s

Everyone dreams of being a celebrity and being famous but being a celebrity can ruin your driving skills. Celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton are known for their poor driving skills. Lohan and Hilton both got into trouble with the law for DUI offenses.

When you are a celebrity you have a mindset where you cannot go wrong; throw in the paparazzi chasing you all the time with cameras and this is a recipe for disaster. Many celebrities get into car accidents with photographers all the time because they cannot drive properly around Los Angeles and other parts of California. In some instance, innocent bystanders have been hit or run over by celebrities who were trying to out run paparazzi members when they could have just posed for a picture and moved on with their day. They say be careful what you wish for and wishing to be a celebrity may mean that you have to take a taxi instead of drive a car to get around.

2. Hormones: Making Men & Women Worse Drivers Since the Wheel Was Invented

Now hormones can really mess with your mind and emotions so they can definitely make your driving skills worse. For example, a woman who is dealing with hormones may cry when she hears a song that was special to her and her ex-boyfriend. This could make her have to blot her eyes to prevent her mascara and make up from running which might make her lose her concentration and become involved in an automobile accident. Some studies show the exact opposite: that estrogen actually improves driving skill.

Not having enough hormones can cause problems as well.  “Spatial skills such as map reading and parking may be difficult for some women because they had too little testosterone in the womb.” Researchers from the University of Giessen, Germany found that spatial ability was severely diminished when they had lower than normal testosterone.

But testosterone levels don’t affect only women. We all know that statistically speaking, women are lower risk drivers than their male counterparts. Hormones also impact men because they often become involved in fender bender and other minor accidents because they are staring at beautiful girls; and if you count testosterone + aggressive driving, then you might as well say that most male-caused accidents are hormonally based.

Lots of these accidents happen on beaches or college campuses when a girl walks by a man’s vehicle and he is not paying attention and hits the car in front of him. The next time an accident report is filed, you might just see hormone-crazed driver listed as the cause for the accident. The body is a very interesting thing and hormones are hard to control so they cause many accidents each year and make people worse drivers. Perhaps insurance companies should consider giving drivers discounts for taking hormone-suppressing drugs.

3. Video Games: A Joystick Can Mess Up Your Mind and Ruin Your Driving Record

Video games such as “Grand Theft Auto” have become very popular with people especially young men between the ages of 16 and 25. Now as most gamers know, video games are pretty harmless; no more than TV or board games.

There are a few studies that show that gamers make better drivers, or even surgeons. According to a study by the University of Rochester, people who played “Call of Duty 2″ and “Unreal Tournament,” were able to make decisions about 25% faster than those who played the “The Sims 2.”

According to the “Archives of Surgery” laproscopic surgeons improved their skills by up to 42% (as well as speed) by playing games like Top Gun.  So all you hard core Halo experts out there really have some great talent when the time comes to consider a career.

Allstate even publish initial results that showed that 10 hours of game play by older patients basically makes the brain function the equivalent of a brain 10 years younger.

So how can it make a potentially worse driver? Most people have not had their brains rot out of their head from playing them for too many hours. However, a small percentage of us do, and the effect has been studied.  The games actually make driving skills worse because you are training your mind to deliberately drive erratically, and in short, take bigger risks. Most people mimic what they see each day so playing video games such as this one will negatively impact how you drive in the future.

Games such as GTA, Need for Speed, and Gran Turismo, etc…. are known for having people drive at top speeds, and sometimes even run people down for fun (hey, it’s just a game) and therefore may help believe you are a better driver in the real-world, or perhaps help your mind justify some of these lower perceived risks. This translates into the reality of your life when you are behind the wheel of your vehicle each day when you are going to school, going to work, or running errands. It is important to remember to separate the reality of life with the fiction of video games so that your driving skills are as consistent as possible.

Now, the study failed to point out what the difference was in the number of pedestrians getting hit, but here are a few of the highest increases: running red lights, filing insurance claims due to accidents, and suffering from road rage in general:

4. Genetics: Blame It on Your DNA

In a recent study of college undergrads, “those with a common genetic variation scored 20% worse in a driving simulator than their counterparts.” Genetics can play a big role in how you drive so the next time that you get into an accident or get a speeding ticket you may want to thank your parents and grandparents for causing you to become a worse driver. Every person is different so they approach driving differently and genetics does play a role in how people look, think, and act.

Driving is a huge responsibility and some people are prone genetically to be better drivers than others. For example, if you have Attention Deficit Disorder then your kids may be more likely to have the medical condition as well. This medical condition causes people to become poor drivers because they have a hard time focusing and concentration on one task at a time so they become hyper which can lead to accidents.

So the next time you get pulled over for a ticket, defend yourself in court with this study, and maybe the judge will let you off easy.

5. Steering Wheel Desk: Having Your Hands on This Desk May Hurt You or Others around You

Yes, there are steering wheel desks and they are actually for your steering wheel in your vehicle. Now most people are probably going to be glued to their computer’s search engine looking for this product because a majority of driver have never heard of it. It is basically like a small folded down desk that attaches to a steering wheel. This ends up distracting drivers more than usual. This and cause their hands to be on the steering wheel while their arms are on the desk. This can make it harder for the hands to quickly stop the vehicle in the event that an object or emergency situation appears in front of the person quickly. The steering wheel desk is a bad idea for people, especially younger drivers who have poor or average driving skills to begin with.

The United States has become a country where DUI’s and traffic accidents are too common. Having excellent driving skills is important to keeping the roads as safe as possible. When you get behind the wheel of your vehicle remember these 5 surprising things so that you do not become a worse driver in the future.

Sources:

http://www.rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=3679
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4202199.stm
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/10/10/video-games-drivers.html
http://archsurg.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/142/2/181
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/10/genetically-bad-driving/
http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/uk/en/continental/automobile/themes/press_services/hidden/01-02-2011video-gaming.html
http://www.switched.com/2009/11/23/steering-wheel-desk-guaranteed-to-make-you-a-worse-driver/

1. Excessive Moose Collisions

A woman from New Hampshire ended up having her insurance coverage canceled thanks to two separate incidents involving moose. She hit a moose twice in the span of ten years and her auto insurance company said that the number of accidents that she had been involved in was too excessive. In all fairness, if you hit a moose it is not because you are a risky driver, sometimes you just take a corner late at night and a moose is just there. This is a 1,600 pound animal and hitting it does cause a lot of damage but it is very hard to even swerve to avoid a collision without hitting something and injuring yourself or someone else.

2. Just Married

Another woman got her car insurance terminated because she got married. Now, men could probably use this as an excuse to not take that long walk down the aisle but it does not happen all the time. The reason behind this is when you get married to someone; they bring additional risk to your auto insurance coverage. The combined credit risk that is involved equates to the factors that are used by the underwriters to determine if you are insurable and should be written an insurance policy. The husband that she married had a few accidents on his driving record and coupled with them having bad credit, their auto insurer said “See ya!”

3. Broken Windshield

One man actually was dropped for insurance claims that he filed due to a broken windshield. The guy must have been asking for it by having probably a dozen cracked windshields in a month right? Wrong. The man had two, count them two cracked windshields in a 30 day period. Now, cracked windshields do not break the bank to fix, so if you live near a school, baseball field, or golf course then you may want to move or park your vehicle in a garage.

4. Stationary Accidents

Another woman was dropped from her car insurance provider because her car was hit while it was not moving on two separate occasions. Now, risk is one thing, but if your car is not being driven then why should an insurer be able to drop you when someone else hit you? Why would you even be considered to be a risk to insure when you were not even near your car and could not avoid the collision happening in the first place? The person was unlucky but not everyone gambles and wins every single time and insurers should know that and not punish someone for unforeseen circumstances.

5. Identity Theft

One California woman had her auto insurance canceled due to identity theft. A female identity thief used her checking account information to fraudulent open an auto insurance account with another insurance provider and then she did not ever pay the premiums again. This led to the woman being dropped from her insurance provider because someone else stole her information and had not paid the premiums on time each month.

6. Accidents Over the Long Term

A man who filed claims for three very minor fender benders over a period of 15 years ended up being dumped from his auto insurance company. The damage totaled less than $5000 in all three accidents yet he was deemed to be too big of a risk to insure. Most people would agree that cancelling under such conditions is a bit absurd.

7. Bounced Checks

Finally, a man in Maine had his insurance policy canceled because he let his premium checks bounce two times in two years. The auto insurance company said that lack of payment was taken into consideration and that they could no longer underwrite a policy for him with their insurance company. It would have been much simpler for them to simply collect payment from the customer, and not only recover the customer, but prevented them from sharing their poor experience with others.

It seems as though car insurance policies have become increasingly difficult for drivers to secure for the long term, which is now due much in part to auto insurance fraud and other issues. There are millions of vehicles on the road and sadly accidents happen every single day. It is important for people that have been told that their car insurance is being canceled because they need to purchase a policy through another provider before the cancellation is completed.

Receiving an insurance policy cancellation letter is no fun. Once a person has their car insurance policy canceled, it is not just a headache that they face; they will also face massive insurance premium hikes. Auto insurance companies are not really “independent” in the sense of the word. They all can access the same information about each driver that applies for an insurance policy through their company. If say Insurance-Company-A sees that Insurance-Company-B has canceled a driver’s insurance policy then they will get suspicious and will be less likely to underwrite a policy. The auto insurance company that does in fact underwrite an insurance policy for that same driver, could end up charging the driver two or three times more money each month for their insurance premiums.

Drivers need to understand that auto insurance is almost becoming a privilege for people to have so it is important to know that auto insurance policies can be canceled for even the smallest reasons. Before filing an insurance claim, think twice about it and ask yourself do you really need to file that claim or can you afford to pay out of pocket and save yourself some headaches down the road.

[If you know of any other crazy reasons for policy cancellations, please add it in the comments below.]

Key responsibilities include:

- Prepares project execution plans and ensures projects are completed on schedule, within budget and meet technical requirements. Manages budget and schedule.

- Identifies and engages appropriate technical and business resources needed for successful project execution. Manages project resources.

- Leads regular project reviews with customers and stakeholders, including senior IT and business leaders. Coordinates and maintains program communications. Documents and reviews lessons learned.

- Provides technical and analytical guidance to project team.

- Establishes and meets Project Office goals and objectives.

Required Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

- Bachelor’s degree and at least 8 years of progressive experience.

- Experience effectively managing multiple projects simultaneously.

- Ability to develop business case justifications and cost/benefit analyses for IT spending and initiatives.

- Proven ability to influence and work across multiple organizations and levels, as well as across multiple geographic regions.

- Skill leading and participating in virtual meetings.

- Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources.

- Experience working independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.

- Proficient use of Microsoft applications (i.e., Word, Excel, MS Project and PowerPoint).

Desired Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

- Experience managing IT projects using IPDS.

- Experience using formal project management methodologies, including EVMS

- Experience leading large, complex enterprise system projects is highly desired.

- Experience establishing best practices and policies for IT project management.

- Project Management certification a plus.

Required Education (including degree):

- Bachelor’s Degree in IT, Computer Science, Business or Finance or related field.

Other Requirements:

Travel requirement varies, based on project assignments.

This is a technically focused role, split between hands on work and activity management. You will be responsible for defining high level architectures, managing development schedules, ensuring budgets are on target, and essentially, being responsible for all web development activities. Software products from an implementation, testing, maintenance & security perspective.

The work will be part-time, on an assignment/need basis, and currently our needs fluctuate.

We are looking for candidates who have a quality focus & have strong experience in creating SDLC methodology/processes & roll these out effectively. You should be experience in driving software releases of complex work to extremely tight deadlines. Resource Management will be a key aspect of the role & candidates must be skilled in this field. Experience with complex data distribution, API’s, and SOA’s is a huge plus. The candidate will be required to have extremely strong skills in LAMP, Ajax, and integration with 3rd-party CMS’.

You will be responsible for providing Technical & Thought leadership to the team, mentoring, motivating & supporting staff. First class communication skills is required.

This is a superb role, working on bleeding edge products that are technically complex working. The role is a high responsibility position & will allow the incumbent to influence greatly SDLC methodologies; processes etc & bring a great deal of input to the role. If you are looking for a role that will allow you to really make a difference then look no further

Measuring Car Safety

The safest 2011 cars were tested and rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Crash worthiness was dependent on how well a vehicle could take a hit from every direction–high-speed side crashes, front and rear collisions and roll overs. IIHS issued grades from Good to Poor. For a vehicle to make it to the IIHS top slot, it had to score Good across the board. Only 2011 vehicles that featured skid-minimizing electronic stability control were tested.

The Smallest and Safest for 2011

*Toyota Corolla

Corolla’s redesign rolled into showrooms in December with a standard six-pack of air bags, jerk-minimizing pretensioner seatbelts and active head-cushioning headrests. The Corolla’s re-engineered body assimilates and evenly redistributes 360 degrees of impact while maintaining an average MSRP of less than $18,300.  

*Subaru Impreza Outback

Subaru’s four-wheel drive Impreza sedans and wagons made the safe list thanks to an all-steel frame, six airbags and an ultra-sensitive anti-lock braking system that works even when a driver doesn’t realize its needed. Safety-impressive Impreza falls in an MSRP range of $17,737 to $20,937.
 
 

*Scion tC

Safety on the Scion tC include a ramped up 8 airbags, including knee and side-curtain airbags. For a maximum MSRP of $19.971, the Scion tC’s rated as good or better than even bigger models with pretensioner seatbelts, active headrests, four-wheel ABS with brake assist and over-ride, a tire pressure monitoring system and engine immobilizer.
 
 

*Scion xB

The slightly less-expensive Scion xB, with an MSRP up to $17.611, has many of the same safety features as its sister Scion. With its shoebox shape, the hardest test for the Scion xB was the rollover roof crash reaction. It passed with flying colors withstanding an impact nearly seven times its own weight, four times greater than federal standards.
 
 

*Chevrolet Cruze

Chevy’s new six-speed Cruze is packaged with multiple standard safety features including 10 airbags, trumping every competitor. Driver and passenger protection is ensured with steel reinforcement, Stabilitrak electronic stability control, OnStar crash response and a crash-collapsing gas pedal, pushing Cruze to the top of the safety charts for an MSRP up to $22,479.

*Honda Civic

Practical, reliable Honda Civics are among the IIHS safety-tested cars that offer the most protection for the least price. A new crash-resistant body, six airbags, anti-lock brakes, active head rests, pretensioner seatbelts with electronic stability control are Civic standards, proving safety is affordable for as little as $15,752 MSRP.
 
 

*Kia Soul

Kia’s small car lineup, including the nice-priced Soul, is filled with advanced safety features–a tire pressure warning system, electronic stability and a 4-Sensor 4-Channel anti-lock braking system. Inside are 6 airbags, child-friendly anchors and latches and an impact-cushioning steering column. The small and safe Soul hovers in the MSRP range of $13,612 to $18,670.
 
 

*Kia Forte

The 2011 Kia Forte models, with a newly introduced five-door hatchback, is a little pricier than the Soul at an MSRP up to $19,305 but it’s just as great for small car safety value. With standard stability and traction sensors and controls for the wheels, a tire pressure monitor and six airbags–including side curtain airbags–the new Forte weighs heavy on the safe side for drivers and passengers.

*Nissan Cube

The Nissan Cube boxcar sailed through IIHS crash testing thanks to its 2011 safety features that boast an electronic stability and traction control system, anti-lock brakes, brake assist, active head rests and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Cube’s six airbags include a Nissan-exclusive two-stage occupant-sensoring Advanced Air Bag System. A new family and safety-friendly Cube sells for a top MSRP of $21,210.

*Mitsubishi Lancer

Mitsubishi’s best selling 4-door sedan loads up on safety with a stronger body design, sensitive dual-stage airbags, energy-absorbing crumple zones, anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls and tire pressure monitoring. With an MSRP between $15,632 and $28,077, the high-style Mitsubishi sedan has high standards for safety, too.
 
 

*Volkswagon GTI

Stability, traction and wheel sensors and controls dominate the 4-door GTI’s safety features. ABS and brake assist are built-in safety extras for this small top-end road machine, starting at an MSRP of $23,284.
 
 
 
 
 
 
*Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta took hints from last year’s Ford Taurus to win a spot among the small car safe bets for 2011. Outside the 40 mpg Fiesta is reinforced with boron steel. Inside features a safe, hands-free entertainment system. On paper, it’s a priced-right MSRP starting at $13,320.

When the economy is sluggish, some car owners tend to lapse in car insurance. It is tempting to do, as some folks need to reduce some expenses, for a number of reasons. Maybe the income reduced within the home or the mortgage payments increased. For whatever reason, some automobile owners believe that they can curtail auto coverage to help financially. Regrettably, coverage for vehicles is not one most folks can skimp on or avoid paying for. Almost every state in the U.S. requires drivers to have vehicle insurance, a certain amount of liability, even to register an automobile. The laws and regulations, as well as the possible ramifications for not having a policy differ for each state.

Let us look at the state of New Hampshire, for example. Drivers are not obligated to carry liability; however, in the state of Virginia, should a driver choose not to purchase car insurance, the driver will end up owing the state a yearly payment of approximately $500.00. Comparable penalties or charges are customary, and removal of driving and registration privileges is customary in many states too. In some instances, a driver can serve time in jail for not having the proper auto coverage. Therefore, trying to avoid paying for this type of coverage could end up costing someone more money and much frustration in the end.

Purchasing an automobile insurance policy on the Internet has saved many individuals money. Comparing a few different quotes makes the whole process go quicker and easier as well. Insurance agencies with affordable prices ranges do exist. Many of the agencies will ask consumers what they can afford to pay and will work diligently to locate the best quotes for car insurance, as well as find them the best coverage. Insurance agents will help an automobile owner get the policy that best suits him or her and will advise him or her about what is necessary for coverage and what is not necessary. Some companies even offer discounts for specific reasons.

What is the Main Reason why Coverage is a State Requirement in 49 States?

The main reason for obligatory vehicle coverage is to shield the community from the tall expenses of damages, physical harms and damage to property pursuant to an automobile accident. The majority of states create a negligibly suitable stage of insurance protection to ensure health and property expenses are feasible. Hence, if drivers have adequate car insurance and they are involved in an accident and deemed to be at fault, the insurance agency will cover the medical expenses, deliver recompense for loss of wages, and cover a certain amount of property damage costs for the other motorist. Similar protection will cover additional folks who are in the other vehicle at the time of an accident, and cover ones in the insured automobile, except if the persons in the auto are kin to the driver.

Conversely, a number of openings exist in vehicle policies that satisfy just the state-mandatory stage of car insurance. If an individual has only liability, the minimum amount required in his or her state, things like fires, thefts and vandalism incidents are not covered, if they are not associated with the car accident and, there are no extras with just liability for things like towing, roadside assistance and so forth. Additionally, if a driver runs into a person who does not have insurance, the insured will have to pay the extra amounts for damages to the automobile or medical expenses. Insurance companies will not disburse the full amount to the driver in that type of situation. For that reason, many car insurance agencies advise drivers to add comprehensive protection to their policies.

While many credible studies show that women don’t tend to drink and drive as often as men, or that their maternal instincts make them more careful drivers, they are certainly not the end of the story when it comes to the driving acumen of man versus woman. Like most other things, there is plenty of evidence out there that refutes the claim that women are better drivers than men. In fact, the prevailing sentiment continues to persist that men best women when it comes to matters of the road.

If men are going to boast about their superiority to women on the open road, they might as well have some ammunition to back it up, and most of these points are backed up by reputable studies:

#1: Men are Involved in Fewer Crashes than Women, Per Mile Driven

Most people automatically assume that male drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents. After all, guys tend to be a lot more aggressive behind the wheel. There are plenty of studies that show that men are more dangerous drivers, but a study by Johns Hopkins Schools of Medicine and Public Health* flies in their faces. The study, which was conducted all the way back in 1998, examined the total number of crashes – non-fatal and fatal alike – and tallied them up by sex. The results were quite interesting, to say the least.

The study showed that men have, on average, 5.1 crashes for every one million miles that they drive. Women, on the other hand, have 5.7 crashes for the same number of miles driven. These results are even more telling when you consider the fact that men drive 74% more miles than women do. The researchers involved in the study did say that younger male drivers tend to skew things considerably, too. Under age 20, male drivers are more likely to be involved in crashes. Between ages 20 and 35, women and men are equally likely to be involved in crashed. Over age 35, women are more likely to be involved in crashes.

#2: Women + Cellphones

We’re all familiar with the cliché of the female tethered to the phone, providing an intricate account of the days events to anyone who will listen. This is one cliché that appears to have been substantiated. According to a recent Nielsen survey*, women talk on the phone 22% more than men each month; a total of 14 hours and 16 minutes – presumably many of those hours logged while navigating a multi-ton automobile through the city streets. According to the National Highway Safety Administration*, 6,000 car crashes a year involve an inattentive driver. The number one culprit is, you guessed it… cellphone usage.

That’s not to say men are completely innocent when it comes to the crime of DWT (driving while talking), but refer to point #6. Enhanced natural ability perhaps provides a bit of a buffer zone when it comes to juggling multiple tasks. Does anyone doubt that Mario Andretti couldn’t have won the French Grand Prix whilst twirling a flaming torch with his left hand?

#3 PMS and Sleep Deprivation

Most of us have likely incurred the wrath of an important female in our lives during “that time of the month”. The wrath just might be warranted though – sleep deprivation is a common symptom of PMS. A study conducted by the Human Sleep Research Program* found that women with PMS tend to report more sleep-related complaints, including wakefulness, insomnia and fatigue. Sleep deprivation and driving is a potent mix – data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration* indicates that over 40,000 crashes per year in the United States occur due to driver drowsiness and fatigue. Additionally, PMS can cause a rational driver to become highly irrational; Road rage is a major epidemic on highways today.

Any individual – male or female, who is sleep deprived and in a horrible mood does not make for the safest driver – the recipe of one part drowsiness and one part PMS induced anger, mixed with subpar ability is not exactly the harbinger of safety on the open road.

#4: Studies Show That Both Sexes Agree: Men are Better Drivers

While studies can be flawed, gut instinct is hard to argue. Plenty of polls have been conducted that gauge the road prowess of the sexes. A recent one* conducted by Harris-Decima, a Canada-based pollster, showed that 36% of respondents claimed that men were better drivers – that’s compared to just 29% who made the same claim about women. Interestingly enough, 48% of male respondents said that men were better drivers, while only 25% of women thought that their skills trumped those of men on the road. Some would say sexism is to blame, and perhaps men are just over confident in their abilities*, but it looks like plenty of women will willingly agree that men are superior drivers.

#5: 99% of Winning Race Car Drivers are Men

In the world of auto racing, the vast majority of participants are guys, and in terms of winning too.. In fact, over all the years of professional racing Danica Patrick has been the only woman to ever win a Indy Car race (Indy Japan 300). Not only has every other race been won by a male, but some male drivers have won it more than three times (A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, and Rick Mears). Driving techniques are a hot topic among men, who will sit and debate the merits of driving in the fast lane versus the slow lane for hours and hours; most women’s eyes will glaze over during such a conversation.

#6: Car-Related Female Fatalities on the Rise

While many are ready to point to studies that show that wmoen drivers, few people have noticed some of the key studies showing that men are indeed better drivers in some regards. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study* showed that traffic fatalities among women have increased within the last 25 years, while the number of male deaths during that same time period have decreased.

According to the study, which culled data from between 1975 and 2003, the number of female traffic fatalities rose by a whopping 14% over that time period. The number of male fatalities, meanwhile, plummeted by 11%. The study does issue the caveat that the number of female drivers rose considerably during that period of time; still, though, that can’t possibly account for such a massive disparity. As much as the fact that men are risky drivers may be bandied about, the cold, hard facts show that women are becoming progressively worse at driving over time – and that could spell major trouble down (and on) the road.

#7: Men Pass the Driving Test Faster

From a very young age, most boys show a natural inclination towards using motorized vehicles. Some would say that this a classic example of “nature versus nurture” and the whole gender stereotyping thing – in other words, boys’ parents are more likely to encourage them to enjoy cars than their female counterparts. That being said, there’s no denying the fact that guys, as a general rule, have a strong natural ability and comprehension when it comes to cars. According to Britain’s Driving Standards Agency*, men are naturally better drivers than women. Robin Cummins oversees the driving tests of more than one million students per year; it’s safe to say that he has a great deal of experience in the field. For one thing, Cummins says that it takes women, on average, 2.12 tests to pass the drivers test; and men take about 1.87 tests to pass. What’s more is that women have to pay about 14 hours more worth of tuition than their male counterparts do. In other words, they require more schooling before they are ready to take and pass the driving test. Female drivers have a pass rate of 40%, while men enjoy a rate of 46%. When taken together, this evidence strongly suggests that men are born with a more intuitive grasp of driving and understand how to do it more naturally than women do.

#8 Men Have Stronger Abilities for Judging Speed, Spatial Analysis, & Mathematical Calculations

“One of the most interesting differences appear in the way men and women estimate time, judge speed of things, carry out mental mathematical calculations, orient in space and visualize objects in three dimensions, etc. In all these tasks, women and men are strikingly different, as they are too in the way their brains process language. This may account, scientists say, for the fact that there are many more male mathematicians, airplane pilots, bush guides, mechanical engineers, architects and race car drivers than female ones.

On the other hand, women are better than men in human relations, recognizing emotional overtones in others and in language, emotional and artistic expressiveness, esthetic appreciation, verbal language and carrying out detailed and pre-planned tasks. For example, women generally can recall lists of words or paragraphs of text better than men”* *

Not only can men play Tetris better, but they can navigate a car better through complex environments too.

#9: Men Have a Greater Experience With Cars

The automobile was invented by a man (Karl Benz), and for the most part, tinkered with ever since by men as well. as men seem to have an intuitive grasp of how automobiles work. That’s not to say that women don’t play a part in modern-day automobile engineering. Men tend to start driving at a younger age, and also tend to log more miles. They tend to improve their driving knowledge as well.

#10: Women are More Likely to Drive with Pets in their Cars & Obstructions in Their Mirrors

One fact seems to be irrefutably true: Women are more likely to drive around with dogs in their cars. Celebrities like Paris Hilton have made owning pint-sized accessory dogs the “in” thing to do. As a result, scads of female imitators are running around with teeny-tiny dogs of their own. When they’re not hanging their itty-bitty pooches – who are bundled up in cute dog carriers – from their shoulders, these women are driving around with them as front-seat passengers, potentially becoming very dangerous distractions to safe driving. Men are more likely to have their dog in the back of their pick-up truck, where they won’t get in the way.

Survey’s have also shown that female drivers are more likely to hang things from their rear-view mirrors. In doing so, they obstruct their view and aren’t going to be as well-equipped for dealing with on-the-road incidents. Hanging random things from a rear-view mirror is a surefire way to reduce visibility – and to increase the odds of an otherwise avoidable accident. Guys aren’t totally immune to this problem, but it’s a lot more common among women.

As a result of the danger they pose, it’s illegal to hang things from a rear-view mirror in some states*. In any event, there’s no denying that doing so can seriously compromise a driver’s ability to see. By not hanging things from a rear-view mirror, a driver can avoid getting a pesky ticket; more importantly, he can keep his line of sight free and clear. As you drive around, be on the lookout for drivers with things hanging from their mirrors – nine times out of ten, they’ll be female.

The Bottom Line Will the war between the sexes – at least when it comes to driving skill – ever be won? Probably not. The preceding points, though, can be used as ammunition in any given battle. No side will ever willingly admit defeat, but anyone who says that women are infinitely superior at driving needs to be made aware of these compelling points. Anyone who denies or downplays them just doesn’t want to admit how true they really are.

We need your help to find at least 3 more points why you believe men are better drivers, especially if you can back it up with scientific evidence/studies.
Let your thoughts be heard in the comments area at the end of this page:

*Sources

http://www.iihs.org/research/fatality_facts_2005/gender.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3730094
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sex/articles/spatial_tests.shtml
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/car-life/cheney/men-vs-women-who-are-better-drivers/article1653975
http://www.cerebromente.org.br/n11/mente/eisntein/cerebro-homens.html
http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/auto.html
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/cars/top-10-reasons-women-cant-drive_1.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article513993.ece
http://www.ctlawtribune.com/getarticle.aspx?ID=37988
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/06/980618032130.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/06/980618032130.htm
http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/african-americans-women-and-southerners-talk-and-text-the-most-in-the-u-s/
http://www.distraction.gov/stats-and-facts/
http://www.sleep-aid-center.com/pms-and-sleep-women-with-severe-pms-perceive-their-sleep-quality-to-be-poor/
http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/drowsy_driving1/drowsy.html