Who Are Better Drivers: Men or Women?

MSN sheds some light on which sex is the better motorist — one of the most hotly debated arguments since 'Which came first, the chicken or the egg?'

By Chuck Tannert

Click to enlarge picture

Statistically speaking, women are better drivers than men.

Famed composer Irving Berlin captured the battle between the sexes quite succinctly in his legendary song "I Can Do Anything Better Than You" from the 1946 Broadway musical "Annie Get Your Gun." Gunslingers Annie Oakley (Ethel Merman) and Frank Butler (Ray Middleton) lyrically debated who could shoot more accurately: she or he? But what they were really fighting about was which sex is the more capable: man or woman? That same argument has been waged many times, about many topics over the years. But no gender-related discussion has been more heated than the one that rages behind the wheel. So who are better drivers: men or women?
The Answer Is ...
In a study released by Quality Planning, an analytics company that validates policyholder information for auto insurers, women came out on top.
The study analyzed different kinds of vehicle code violations (traffic violations) and then compared how many times men were cited versus women. The conclusion was that men break more traffic laws and drive more dangerously than women. Because they violate laws designed to make the roads safer, men cause more accidents and expensive damage.
Who do you think are better drivers: Men or Women?
"We were not surprised to see that men have slightly more violations — about 5 percent — that result in accidents than women," said Raj Bhat, president of Quality Planning. "And because men are also more likely to violate laws for speeding, passing and yielding, the resulting accidents caused by men lead to more expensive claims than those caused by women."
Topping the list is the finding that men are cited for reckless driving 3.41 more times than women. Reckless driving is considered one of the most serious traffic offenses by courts since it implies a disregard for the rights and safety of people or property.
Violations for which men scored at least 50 percent higher than women:

TYPE OF VIOLATION	RATIO M:F
Reckless driving	3.41
DUI	3.09
Seatbelt violations	3.08
Speeding	1.75
Failure to yield	1.54
Stop sign/signal violation	1.53

Evidence Gets Worse
Guys, when it rains it pours. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more men than women die each year in motor vehicle crashes. "Men take more risks behind the wheel than women, and so men are more likely to get into serious crashes," says Anne McCartt, the institute's senior vice president of research. "We don't have any way of comparing their driving abilities, but on the likelihood of getting into a serious crash in which someone dies, men win handily."

Fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled, by driver age and gender, April 2001–March 2002:

Age	Male	Female	Total
16-19	Crash Involvements: 4,257 Miles: 46,427,394,010 Rate: 9.2	Crash Involvements: 1,852 Miles: 35,264,476,105 Rate: 5.3	Crash Involvements: 6,109 Miles: 81,691,870,114 Rate: 7.5
20-29	Crash Involvements: 8,949 Miles: 225,999,581,860 Rate: 4.0	Crash Involvements: 3,172 Miles: 156,283,683,955 Rate: 2.0	Crash Involvements: 12,122 Miles: 382,283,265,815 Rate: 3.2
30-59	Crash Involvements: 15,027 Miles: 845,507,965,689 Rate: 1.8	Crash Involvements: 6,946 Miles: 551,350,306,430 Rate: 1.3	Crash Involvements: 21,973 Miles: 1,396,858,272,119 Rate: 1.6
60-69	Crash Involvements: 2,097 Miles: 128,814,817,845 Rate: 1.6	Crash Involvements: 1,008 Miles: 64,778,212,790 Rate: 1.6	Crash Involvements: 3,105 Miles: 193,593,030,635 Rate: 1.6
70-Plus	Crash Involvements: 3,148 Miles: 76,991,652,560 Rate: 4.1	Crash Involvements: 1,571 Miles: 39,093,332,009 Rate: 4.0	Crash Involvements: 4,719 Miles: 116,084,984,569 Rate: 4.1
Total*	Crash Involvements: 33,733 Miles: 1,324,373,970,682 Rate: 2.5	Crash Involvements: 14,633 Miles: 847,734,931,097 Rate: 1.7	Crash Involvements: 48,638 Miles: 2,172,108,901,779 Rate: 2.2

*Total includes other and/or unknowns
On the Flip Side
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also reported that from 1975 to 2003, female deaths in motor vehicle crashes increased 14 percent, compared with an 11 percent decline for male motorists during that same period. Insurance industry experts peg the rise in female deaths in vehicular crashes to more women obtaining driver's licenses than in the past and driving more miles than, say, 25 years ago.
Plus, it seems as if female motorists are getting more aggressive. "It's true that men do take more risks than women," says Carolyn Gorman, vice president of the Insurance Information Institute. "However, [women] are partaking in more risky behaviors than ever before. The gap is closing quickly."
So Are Women Better Drivers Than Men?
Many auto insurance industry experts would agree with the theory that men, especially young men, tend to drive more aggressively than women and display their aggression in a direct manner, rather than indirectly. Furthermore, as a rule of thumb, male drivers are more likely than women to break the law, and the male of the species tends to be more of a risk-taker.
Even so, it's hard to say women are better drivers, although they are statistically safer. Women have just as many accidents as men; however, they tend to be minor fender-benders. Men, on the other hand, tend to do the job properly when they crash, and as a result cost their insurance companies a lot more money.
So, even though it's a blow to our male egos, we'll have to give this round to women. Sorry fellas.

Mitsubishi promises Outlander plug-in hybrid for Paris *UPDATE

By Sebastian BlancoRSS feed

Posted Jun 19th 2012 8:02AM

We've been waiting since the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show – when Mitsubishi first talked about the PX-MiEV, a plug-in CUV concept – for some sort of real-world plug-in Outlander. It looks like we're finally going to get our wish during the 2012 Paris Motor Show this fall. Today, Mitsubishi released the not-very-revealing teaser image you see above, and it says the plug-in Outlander will "share its architecture with the soon-to-be-introduced New Outlander's ICE versions." Mitsubishi also claims the Outlander will "be the first permanent 4WD electric car in series production."

The New Outlander PHEV will have three drive modes, all of which are 4WD: Pure (all-electric drive), Series (electric drive, supported by the gas generator) and Parallel (ICE engine supported by Twin Motor 4WD). Mitsubishi says the New Outlander PHEV will have a total driving range of 800 km (497 miles) and emit fewer than 50 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

As previously noted, the PHEV version of the Outlander should arrive in the spring of 2013. Given the coming pack of plug-in crossovers (see: Tesla Model X, Volvo V60 plug-in hybrid, Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid and Amp's offerings), if Mitsubishi can get the cost comparatively low, the way the i is compared to the Nissan Leaf, without making it quite as spartan, this thing could carve out a niche for itself. For the moment, though, it sounds like Mitsubishi is only going to sell the new Outlander PHEV in Europe.

*UPDATE: As DaveMart points out in the comments on AutoblogGreen, Mitsubishi reps have told Inside Line that the plug-in Outlander will come to the U.S. in late 2013 or early 2014.

 

MITSUBISHI MOTORS AT 2012 PARIS MOTORSHOW - NEW OUTLANDER PLUG-IN HYBRID EV WORLD PREMIERE

CIRENCESTER, UK - At the forthcoming 2012 Paris Motor Show[1] ("Mondial de l'Automobile"), Mitsubishi Motors will continue to roll out its ambitious, global and green new product generation with a series of significant premieres. Highlight of this offensive will be the world introduction of the all-new Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV.

New Frontier
Neither a mere adaptation of an existing Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) – powered vehicle, nor a dedicated Plug-in Hybrid technology showcase, the New Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV (or "PHEV") will share its architecture with the soon-to-be-introduced New Outlander's ICE versions – an engineering feat in itself.

As such, it will be the first mainstream car from a major manufacturer envisaged from the outset with built-in provisions for either ICE or PHEV power trains.

Plug-in Hybrid EV
Adding to its credentials, the New Outlander PHEV will further distinguish itself:

Mitsubishi Motors' first Plug-in Hybrid car, it will be an EV-based vehicle, relying on MMC's extensive EV and electronic know-how, supplemented by a petrol engine when needed – a solution more suited to global markets than Diesel.
Making the best use of Mitsubishi's renowned 4-Wheel-Drive expertise, it will also be the first permanent 4WD electric car in series production.

Long haul
The New Outlander PHEV unique drive train combination of front electric motor + rear electric motor + front traction/generator petrol engine will translate into a choice of three driving modes:

• Pure (Twin Motor 4WD EV)
• Series (Twin Motor 4WD - EV supported by generator)
• Parallel (ICE engine supported by Twin Motor 4WD).

When fitted to the New Outlander, the Mitsubishi Plug-in Hybrid system will allow for a long haul range and very low emissions similar to that of the Concept PX-MiEV II show car, i.e. a driving distance of over 800 km and a CO2 target below 50 g/km.

Further...
Whilst the New Outlander ICE will start its commercial career in Western & Eastern Europe in the fall of 2012, the Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV will be retailed in Europe during the course of 2013.

Complementing this New Outlander family, Mitsubishi Motors will stage further premieres at the Paris Motor Show, aimed at a European audience and to be detailed at a later stage...

GM, Honda, Toyota confirm interest in Apple's Siri voice command technology

LOS ANGELES -- Toyota, Honda and General Motors have confirmed they plan to integrate Siri, Apple Inc.'s voice control technology used on the iPhone, into connectivity systems of upcoming vehicles.
Spokespersons from the three companies confirmed the plans to Automotive News on Monday after announcements made by Apple at its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.
Apple executives said five other automakers -- Chrysler, Mercedes, Audi, BMW, and Jaguar/Land Rover -- have agreed to use Siri in their entertainment systems, according to a report on Yahoo! Autos.
In essence, vehicles compatible with the Siri service will allow drivers to make calls, dictate text messages, look up directions and use other Siri functions by plugging their iPhone into a USB cable in the car. Pressing a button on the steering wheel will activate Siri, and drivers can speak commands to their phone hands-free.
A new Siri feature, called "Eyes Free," will help drivers use their iPhones while keeping their eyes on the road by allowing iPhone owners to control more of the device's functions with Siri with the screen off to mitigate distracted driving. The Eyes Free feature will be released as part of Apple's latest version of its mobile operating software due out this fall.
"A number of auto manufacturers have committed to delivering Eyes Free Siri integration in the next 12 months," Scott Forstall, Apple's senior vice president of iOS software, said during a keynote speech at the conference as a screen behind him showed the logos of GM, Toyota, Honda, Chrysler, Honda, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes Benz and Audi.
Leap into autos
The move is a feet-first leap by Apple into the auto industry.
It also suggests that the industry is beginning to recognize that personal device makers -- in this case, Apple -- are best-equipped to provide consumers with the connectivity and info-on-demand they want. Automakers may be best-served to focus on making it easy and safe to access those devices in the car.
GM has been an early adopter, confirming it will offer such a system on a specific vehicle. The MyLink infotainment system offered on the 2013 Chevrolet Spark and Sonic small cars will be compatible with Siri, GM spokesman Scott Fosgard said. The vehicles go on sale later this year.
Toyota, Honda plans
Toyota spokeswoman Carly Schaffner said Toyota was working with Apple, but declined to discuss when Siri compatibility may come to Toyota vehicles.
"Apple and Toyota are exploring the potential to introduce the Siri Eyes Free Mode interface into Toyota, Lexus, or Scion vehicles," Schaffner said inERP Must-Haves for Automotive Suppliers
an e-mail.
"As the SEFM is a widely used and highly accurate voice recognition system, we believe it would contribute to safer and more comfortable usage of vehicles for customers."
American Honda spokesman Alicia Jones said that the new Siri Eyes Free feature would be "extensively applied" to coming Honda and Acura vehicles. Jones declined to say when Honda planned to launch the technology, but said Honda would announce more about it by the end of the year.
"We think smartphones have become so integral to people's lives that they're using them in their vehicles and the challenge is to enable the benefits of these devices without contributing to visual or manual driver distraction," Jones said.
Christina Rogers contributed to this report.
You can reach Ryan Beene at rbeene@crain.com.

15 Best Family Cars of 2012

A Mix of High Mileage Cars as Well as Budget, Crossover, Eco-Friendly and Large Family Vehicles Make the List
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Parents and Edmunds.com, the leading online resource for car buyers, today revealed their list of the Best Family Cars for 2012. For the fifth consecutive year, car experts from both organizations scrutinized hundreds of vehicles focusing on safety and reliability as top priorities. Each car was also judged on performance, interior, exterior and family-friendly features. Every car on the list is equipped with antilock brakes, electronic stability control and a minimum of six air bags. Plus, a record 14 vehicles recommended by Parents/Edmunds.com earned a “Top Safety Pick” designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
In addition to test-driving, analyzing, and comparing prices and features, Parents and Edmunds.com consulted parents who own and drive these vehicles every day. The Best Family Cars of 2012 feature appears in the July issue of Parents magazine on newsstands June 12th.
According to Parents and Edmunds.com, the 15 Best Family Cars of 2012 (and their MSRPs) are:

HIGH MILEAGE CARS

• Toyota Prius V, starts at $26,400
• Honda Civic Hybrid, starts at $24,200
• Chevrolet Cruze Eco, starts at $19,245

BUDGET

• Chevrolet Sonic, starts at $13,865
• Ford Focus, starts at $16,500
• Hyundai Elantra, starts at $15,345

CROSSOVERS

• Mazda 5, starts at $19,625
• Kia Sorento, starts at $23,150
• Honda CR-V, starts at $22,495

SEDANS

• Volkswagen Passat, starts at $19,995
• Toyota Camry, starts at $21,955
• Kia Optima, starts at $21,000

LARGE VEHICLES

• Dodge Durango, starts at $28,995
• Toyota Sienna, starts at $25,060
• Honda Odyssey, starts at $28,375

To read more about the 15 Best Family Cars featured in the magazine, go to: http://www.parents.com/parenting/money/car-buying/best-family-cars-2012/.
About Parents:
Parents, published monthly by Meredith Corporation, has been America’s #1 family magazine for more than 85 years. Since its inception in 1926, it has been a trusted source by every generation of parents. Currently, the magazine is a powerful community of nearly 16 million readers devoted to supporting the efforts of parents, educators and other citizens who strive to make the world a better place for our children. Parents can be found online at http://www.parents.com/.
About Edmunds.com, Inc. (http://www.edmunds.com/about/)
Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its acclaimed mobile site, Edmunds.com Android App and five-star Edmunds iPhone and iPad apps make car pricing and other research tools available for car shoppers at dealerships and on the go. Its automotive enthusiast web site, InsideLine.com, is the most-read car publication of its kind. Its highly regarded mobile site and iPhone app features the wireless Web’s most comprehensive gallery of automotive photos and videos. Edmunds.com Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit. Follow Edmunds.com on http://www.twitter.com/edmunds and fan Edmunds.com on Facebook.

Consumers Don’t Want Social Media In Vehicles: Study

According to consumer research discussed at the Telematics Detroit 2012 Conference, social media platforms such as Facebook and twitter are among the lowest priorities when it comes to in-car connectivity features consumers want in their vehicles.

Rather, vehicle shoppers are interested in “specific applications that make sense when they’re driving,” according to Thilo Koslowoski a noted technology analyst for consultancy firm Gartner.
Such “specific” apps include real-time weather forecasting, traffic conditions and parking availability. According to Koslowoski, the research by Gartner demonstrates that “you have to be careful not to confuse the car with your mobile phone or your laptop.”
The findings might come as news to some automakers, who seem increasingly obsessed about integrating vehicles as much as possible to consumer’s lifestyles, including making them rolling conveyances that allow motorists to stay connected via social media. In fact, Mercedes-Benz offers something mBrace2, which allows the driver to post to their Facebook page, albeit only via voice activation, while on the move. “We believe that telematics will allow people to be both connected and protected at the same time,” declared Sascha Simon. head of M-B USA’s advanced product planning division.
Koslowski, believes that in the future, while “scores of apps can be created,” the emphasis is going to be on those that are “driver specific.”
According to the Gartner research, when it comes to in-vehicle connectivity, around 82 percent of motorists are willing to pay extra for services if they’re deemed useful, such as OnStar, navigation systems, or other safety features; that’s a sizeable jump from just 20 percent in the US a few years ago. He also says that some of the current players in the telematics game will likely not survive in the future.
“I just think some companies will not be in a position to be successful on that on their own, it will require too much of an investment,” Koslowski said during the Detroit conference.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

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