Women are safer drivers than men in the UAE, survey finds

Female motorists less likely to speed or use mobile phones and more likely to indicate when changing lanes

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  Hundreds of road accidents occurred in Dubai due to bad weather. Dubai traffic police

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  A van lies battered after its driver ran into difficulties. Dubai traffic police

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  Problems were reported across the city. Dubai traffic police

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  A driver surveys his beached coach. Dubai traffic police

Women tend to be better drivers than men because they have been involved in fewer accidents and are more likely to obey traffic rules, a new survey to mark International Women's Day on Monday revealed.

The survey, conducted by RoadSafetyUAE, a platform that promotes safe driving and road etiquette, polled approximately 1,000 drivers as part of the UAE Road Safety Monitor perception and attitude research project, that has been running for six years.

The survey showed female drivers were less likely to speed or use their mobile phones at the wheel.

Lane swerving remains the number one cause of death on UAE's roads

They were more likely to indicate when changing lanes, tailgate less often and were more adept at fitting a child car seat.

“Female drivers often don’t receive the due appreciation for their driving behaviour,” said Thomas Edelmann, founder and managing director of RoadSafetyUAE.

“Gender prejudice still seems to play a role, but a more careful attitude can be observed while analysing the behaviour of UAE lady drivers.”

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Watch: Abu Dhabi police fines truck driver after spotting violations on the road

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The survey asked male and female drivers several questions about road safety and traffic rules.

Twenty-one per cent of women and 26 per cent of men said they had been involved in a road accident in the past six months.

Seventy-one per cent of women said they indicated when changing lanes, as opposed to 65 per cent of men.

The findings also showed that 84 per cent of women regularly used child car seats compared to 70 per cent of men, with only 12 per cent of women confused about regulations regarding a child's age and weight, compared with 34 per cent of men.

Fewer women engaged in road rage (21 per cent compared with 25 per cent of men), but 81 per cent of women who did display road rage were repeat offenders, compared with 70 per cent of men.

When it comes to tailgating, men were more likely to drive too close to a vehicle, but women said they would do so more often when running late.

While a third of women said they never used a mobile phone behind the wheel, only 23 per cent of men said they put their phone away when driving.

Taking calls rather than checking messages was the main reason given for picking up a phone when driving, women said.

“There are improvement potentials [in women drivers] especially with regards to time management, and to a lesser extent seatbelt use, road rage and mobile phone calls,” Mr Edelmann said.

“Running late is the key reason for ladies to tailgate and it would be good for females to reflect on this, as they state they get nervous when they are tailgated.

“As police have said, female drivers seem to be more prone to distracted driving, hence the use of the mobile phone. This must be stopped.

“But lane swerving remains the number one cause of death on the UAE’s roads and this act of reckless driving goes hand in hand with [not] indicating.”

UAE police supercars – in pictures

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  Dubai Police have recently acquired a Toyota Supra to add to their supercar fleet. Courtesy: Dubai Police

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  In 2015, Abu Dhabi Police displayed a liveried Lykan HyperSport by Dubai-based car maker W Motors. Security Media

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  From left, a Porsche Panamera, BMW i8 hybrid sports car and a Brabus 700, all in the Dubai Police colours, pictured in 2015. Dubai Police

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  A few million dirhams of Dubai Police metal outside the Dubai International Motor Show in 2017: from left, a Nissan GT-R, an Audi R8, a Bentley Continental GT and a BMW i8. Satish Kumar for The National

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  A Mercedes-Benz SLS-AMG on the Dubai Police fleet in 2015. WSF Creative

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  Dubai Police's Brabus 700, which is a Mercedes-Benz G 63 modified by German company Brabus. WSF Creative

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  The Bugatti Veyron, once the fastest production car in the world, has been one of the most expensive cars in Dubai Police's collection. EPA

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  An Aston Martin One-77, one of a limited edition of 77 cars, in Dubai Police livery at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai in 2013. Sarah Dea / The National

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  A fleet of Dubai Police supercars led the way during the fourth stage of the Dubai Tour cycling race in 2014. Christopher Pike / The National

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  Dubai Police's Brabus 700 was unveiled at the Dubai International Motor Show in 2013. Pawan Singh / The National

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  A Lamborghini Aventador in Dubai Police colours. Dubai Police

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  A Bentley Continental GT from Dubai Police's fleet at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai in 2013. AFP

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  The Lamborghini Aventador is capable of speeds of up to 350 kilometres per hour. Dubai Police

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  The BMW i8, which is a hybrid vehicle, adds an environmental edge to Dubai Police's glittering fleet. Dubai Police

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  Two new Audi R8s, centre, were added to the Dubai Police roster in 2016. Grayling

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  A McLaren MP4-12C was given the green-and-white treatment in 2013. Dubai Police

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  Dubai Police's Ghiath, aka the 'Beast Patrol', fights crime by using AI systems with facialrecognition technology. Victor Besa / The National

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  Dubai Ambulance's Ford Mustang. Courtesy: Aletihad

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  The Rolls-Royce Wraith is the most luxurious of Dubai Police's fleet. Courtesy: Dubai Police

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  The Ministry of Interior's Lamborghini Aventador. Lamborghini

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  Dubai Police officers set to take to the road in a new fleet of Renault Zoe cars.

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  Eight Chevolet Bolt EV cars are now being used by Dubai Police. Courtesy: Chevrolet

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  One of Dubai Police's new Peugeot electric cars that will be stationed at Dubai Airports. Dubai Media Office