Are women really ‘bad’ drivers?

It is generally believed that women are worse drivers than men. If there is a queue of vehicles on the road, it is believed to be due to the fault of a female driver.

However, research proves that women are better drivers than men. In addition to a research from Newcastle University in England, the journal called ‘Injury Prevention’ has also researched it.

The study found that women’s reaction times were better than men’s, averaging 2.45 seconds for women compared to 2.63 seconds for men.

Male drivers had nearly double the rate of car and van accidents compared to female drivers.

Along with this, the study also added that male drivers choose dangerous routes in addition to speeding, which increases the risk of accidents.

Car tracking company Netstar said in its data that women were less likely than men to hit potholes, while sudden braking was 16.9 percent for women compared to 22.8 percent for men.

But the driving conditions for women in Pakistan are slightly different. Independent Urdu spoke to a few women to find out what they face while driving on the roads of Pakistan.

Media manager Yasal Munim said men harass women in various ways when they see them driving, including gesticulating, staring, trying to swerve, deliberately trapping the vehicle, chasing and shouting.

Maryam Salim, an engineer who has been driving for years, said: ‘Women even have to think not to look at the car next to them when stopping at traffic lights at night, because if a man happens to be So he might as well follow you.’

Amina Zia says that women’s driving jokes are very common which significantly affects women’s ability to drive and it is important to stop such thinking in the first place.

Senior Superintendent of Police Islamabad Traffic Mustafa Tanveer spoke to Independent Urdu regarding safety measures for women while driving.

He said that if women drivers face any difficult situation or harassment, the response time of helpline 15 is quite short and they can get timely help.

He said that self-defense courses have also been started under the police, which can help people to protect themselves.

Apart from this, Independent Urdu Editor-in-Chief and self-defense instructor Bakar Attiyani says that when women sit in the car, they must look around to see if there is any suspicious person and close all the windows and doors while sitting.

‘If you are being chased by someone, you should go to a nearby crowded place or a police station, if this is not possible and you can handle the vehicle at a high speed, try to overtake such people. You can also carry a spray or a dagger-like weapon.’

He said that in such situations it is most important to control the senses.