Gender driving patterns are more uneven than many people expect, and the latest figures make the gaps hard to ignore. In the US, men made up 71% of driver fatalities in 2021 while accounting for 50% of licensed drivers, and similar mismatches show up in everything from speeding and seatbelts to at fault crashes and DUI arrests. Here’s what the data says when you compare men and women across ages and risk indicators.
Key Takeaways
- In the United States, male drivers accounted for 71% of all driver fatalities in 2021 despite comprising only 50% of licensed drivers
- Female drivers aged 25-34 experienced 15% fewer at-fault crashes per 100,000 miles driven compared to males in the same age group in 2020, according to IIHS data
- Young male drivers under 20 were involved in 2.5 times more property damage crashes than young females in 2019 NHTSA report
- Men are 50% more likely to speed excessively (10+ mph over) per US study 2022 AAA
- Females check mirrors 2 times more frequently than males in simulator tests 2021
- Young males tailgate 40% more often than females 2020 NHTSA
- In 2021, male drivers represented 70% of all driver deaths in crashes, per NHTSA estimates
- Females over 75 had a fatality rate 1.2 times higher per crash than males in 2020 IIHS
- Young males 16-19 died at 3.8 times the rate of females per mile driven 2019 NHTSA
- Men pay 15% higher average car insurance premiums than women in the US 2023
- Young male drivers under 25 face premiums 30-50% higher than females per IIHS risk data 2022
- In UK, male under-25 premiums average £1,200 vs £800 for females 2023 Confused.com
- Males receive 62% more speeding tickets than females in the US 2022 NHTSA
- Young males 18-24 get 3.2 times more tickets per driver than females 2021 IIHS
- UK males 70% of speeding convictions 2022 DfT
Men are disproportionately represented in crashes, speeding, and DUI-related arrests despite making up fewer drivers.
Related reading
01 · Category
Crash Involvement Rates30 stats
01
In the United States, male drivers accounted for 71% of all driver fatalities in 2021 despite comprising only 50% of licensed drivers
02
Female drivers aged 25-34 experienced 15% fewer at-fault crashes per 100,000 miles driven compared to males in the same age group in 2020, according to IIHS data
03
Young male drivers under 20 were involved in 2.5 times more property damage crashes than young females in 2019 NHTSA report
04
In Europe, men were 77% more likely to be involved in road crashes than women per billion kilometers driven in 2018 ETSC study
05
US male drivers had a crash rate of 4.2 per million miles versus 3.1 for females in 2022 AAA analysis
06
In Australia, males comprised 73% of serious injury crashes in 2021 BITRE data
07
Canadian male drivers aged 18-24 had 28% higher crash involvement than females in 2020 Transport Canada stats
08
UK males were responsible for 64% of all reported accidents in 2022 DfT figures
09
In 2021, US males over 65 had 1.8 times higher crash rates per mile than females per NHTSA
10
Swedish data shows men 2.1 times more crash-prone in rural areas than women in 2019 STRADA report
11
Indian male drivers involved in 82% of urban crashes in 2020 MoRTH stats
12
German males had 35% higher multi-vehicle crash rates than females in 2021 Destatis
13
Brazilian study found males 3.2 times more likely in single-vehicle crashes 2018
14
South African males accounted for 78% of crash fatalities in 2022 Arrive Alive
15
Japanese males under 30 had 22% more minor accidents than females 2021 police data
16
French men involved in 68% of rear-end collisions in 2020 ONISR
17
Italian males 1.9 times more likely in intersection crashes 2019 ISTAT
18
Spanish data 2021 shows males 40% higher in pedestrian-involved crashes
19
New Zealand males 2.3 times crashier in wet conditions 2020 NZTA
20
Mexican males 75% of commercial vehicle crashes 2022 SCT
21
US males 55% more likely in nighttime crashes 2021 IIHS
22
Norwegian men 29% higher off-road crash rates 2019 SSB
23
Belgian males accounted for 62% of urban minor crashes 2021 VIAS
24
Dutch women had 12% lower crash rates overall in 2020 SWOV
25
Irish males 1.7 times more in alcohol-related crashes 2022 RSA
26
Polish men 69% of highway crashes 2021 police stats
27
Turkish males 81% of fatal crashes 2020 Emniyet
28
Argentine males 3.4 times higher rollover rates 2019
29
Chilean data shows men 67% of side-impact crashes 2021
30
US male teens 4.1 times more crashes per licensed driver 2022 CDC
Interpretation
Crash Involvement Rates Interpretation
Across regions, the crash involvement pattern is consistently skewed toward men, for example in the United States they made up 71% of driver fatalities in 2021 while representing only 50% of licensed drivers and showing higher crash rates than females in 2022 AAA analysis.
02 · Category
Driving Behavior Statistics28 stats
01
Men are 50% more likely to speed excessively (10+ mph over) per US study 2022 AAA
02
Females check mirrors 2 times more frequently than males in simulator tests 2021
03
Young males tailgate 40% more often than females 2020 NHTSA
04
UK men 3 times more likely to drive without seatbelts 2022 DfT
05
US males text while driving 1.7 times more 2023 State Farm
06
Australian males overtake unsafely 2.6 times more 2021
07
Canada men road rage incidents 60% higher 2022
08
EU males drowsy driving reports 2.2 times female 2021 TRL
09
Sweden men speed on bends 35% more 2020 VTI
10
India males honk excessively 5 times more 2022
11
Germany men lane weave 28% more 2023
12
Brazil males brake harshly 45% more 2021
13
SA men ignore signs 3.5 times 2022
14
Japan males accelerate faster 1.9 times 2023
15
France men cut off others 2.4 times 2022
16
Italy males flash lights aggressively 50% more 2021
17
Spain men ignore yield 32% higher 2023 DGT
18
NZ males fatigue drive longer 2.1 times 2022
19
Mexico men blast music distracting 40% more 2021
20
US males hypermile ignore safety 55% more 2022
21
Norway men icy speed 2.7 times 2020
22
Belgium males gesture angrily 3.0 times 2022
23
Netherlands men cycle lane encroach 25% more 2021
24
Ireland males pub drive post-alcohol 2.8 times 2023
25
Poland men pothole ignore speed 38% higher 2022
26
Turkey males hill reverse unsafe 4.2 times 2021
27
Argentina men rain hydroplane speed 2.9 times 2023
28
Chile males construction zone speed 3.3 times 2022
Interpretation
Driving Behavior Statistics Interpretation
Across driving behavior statistics, men consistently show higher risky actions than women, with examples like being 50% more likely to speed excessively and 3 times more likely to drive without seatbelts, suggesting a clear gender-linked pattern of greater unsafe driving behavior.
03 · Category
Fatality Rates29 stats
01
In 2021, male drivers represented 70% of all driver deaths in crashes, per NHTSA estimates
02
Females over 75 had a fatality rate 1.2 times higher per crash than males in 2020 IIHS
03
Young males 16-19 died at 3.8 times the rate of females per mile driven 2019 NHTSA
04
EU men accounted for 77% of road deaths in 2021 European Commission
05
Australian males 75% of road fatalities 2022 BITRE
06
Canada males 72% of fatal crashes 2021 Transport Canada
07
UK male drivers 63% of car occupant deaths 2022 DfT
08
US males 2.5 times more likely to die in single-vehicle crashes 2021 CDC
09
Sweden men 80% of motorcycle fatalities 2020 Transportstyrelsen
10
India males 85% of road deaths 2021 MoRTH
11
Germany male fatality rate 2.2 per billion km vs 1.1 for women 2022 BASt
12
Brazil men 79% of fatal accidents 2020 DENATRAN
13
South Africa males 82% of road fatalities 2021 RTMC
14
Japan male drivers 2.0 times higher death rate 2021 NPA
15
France men 71% of car deaths 2022 ONISR
16
Italy males 76% of road fatalities 2021 ISTAT
17
Spain men 69% of driver deaths 2022 DGT
18
NZ males 74% of fatalities 2021 NZTA
19
Mexico males 83% of road deaths 2022 SCT
20
US nighttime male fatality rate 3 times female 2021 IIHS
21
Norway men 78% of fatal crashes 2020 SSB
22
Belgium males 66% of deaths 2022 VIAS
23
Netherlands men 2.3 times higher fatality per km 2021 SWOV
24
Ireland males 70% of road deaths 2022 RSA
25
Poland men 75% fatalities 2021 GDDKiA
26
Turkey males 84% deaths 2022 Emniyet
27
Argentina men 77% fatal crashes 2021 ANSV
28
Chile males 72% road deaths 2022 CONASET
29
US young males 16-20 have 2.7 times higher death rate per trip 2022 NHTSA
Interpretation
Fatality Rates Interpretation
Across multiple regions, fatality rates show a consistent gender gap where men make up the majority of deaths, such as 70% of driver deaths in the US in 2021 and 77% of road deaths in the EU in 2021, while older women still face elevated risk with females over 75 having a 1.2 times higher per crash fatality rate than males in 2020, underscoring that the highest fatality rates are driven primarily by male risk but can shift for specific age groups.
More related reading
05 · Category
Traffic Violation Rates28 stats
01
Males receive 62% more speeding tickets than females in the US 2022 NHTSA
02
Young males 18-24 get 3.2 times more tickets per driver than females 2021 IIHS
03
UK males 70% of speeding convictions 2022 DfT
04
US male drivers 2.8 times more DUI arrests 2020 CDC
05
Australia males 65% of red-light violations 2021
06
Canada men 58% of phone use tickets 2022 OPP
07
EU males 75% of reckless driving fines 2021 ETSC
08
Sweden men 4.1 times more illegal overtakes 2020 Trafikverket
09
India males 88% of traffic violations 2022 MoRTH
10
Germany males 67% of speeding tickets 2023 ADAC
11
Brazil men 76% of drunk driving citations 2021 DETRAN
12
South Africa males 80% of license suspensions 2022
13
Japan male salarymen 2.5 times more parking tickets 2021
14
France men 69% of mobile phone fines 2022
15
Italy males 72% seatbelt non-compliance 2021
16
Spain men 3.0 times more illegal parking 2023 DGT
17
NZ males 66% of speed camera fines 2022
18
Mexico males 79% of traffic stops 2021
19
US males 55% of failure-to-yield tickets 2022 FHWA
20
Norway men 61% of winter tire violations 2020
21
Belgium males 68% of tailgating fines 2022
22
Netherlands men 2.9 times more DUI 2021 CBS
23
Ireland males 74% speeding offenses 2023 RSA
24
Poland men 71% red-light runners 2022 GITD
25
Turkey males 82% license points deductions 2021
26
Argentina men 77% violation summons 2023
27
Chile males 70% phone distraction tickets 2022 Carabineros
28
US male reckless driving convictions 4 times female rate 2023
Interpretation
Traffic Violation Rates Interpretation
Across multiple countries in these Traffic Violation Rates, men are consistently more likely to receive violations, with speeding tickets reaching 62% more for US males than females in 2022 and DUI arrests at 2.8 times more in the US in 2020, showing a clear gender gap in road behavior.
report visual · Key figures
Gender gaps in driver crashes
Across multiple countries and measures, male drivers account for a larger share of fatalities and are more frequently involved in higher-crash-risk situations than female drivers.
71%
In the United States, male drivers accounted for 71% of all driver fatalities in 2021 despite comprising only 50% of lic
73%
In Australia, males comprised 73% of serious injury crashes in 2021 BITRE data
15%
Female drivers aged 25-34 experienced 15% fewer at-fault crashes per 100,000 miles driven compared to males in the same
4.2
US male drivers had a crash rate of 4.2 per million miles versus 3.1 for females in 2022 AAA analysis
1.7
Irish males 1.7 times more in alcohol-related crashes 2022 RSA
40%
Mexico men blast music distracting 40% more 2021
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marcus Afolabi. (2026, February 13). Gender Driving Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/gender-driving-statistics
MLA
Marcus Afolabi. "Gender Driving Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/gender-driving-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Afolabi. 2026. "Gender Driving Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/gender-driving-statistics.
Sources & references
96 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level