Women drive worse than men says Spanish judge!

Judge Javier Albar from Zaragoza, in northern Spain, decided in favour of a local driving school which had argued their decision to charge women more than men wasn't discriminatory.

His reasoning was that official data from Spain’s Directorate of Traffic proved that "every single year, men displayed greater dexterity and better open road skills" than their female counterparts.

Back in 2011, Autoescuela Zaragoza advertised a deal where, for €665 ($900),  prospective male drivers aged 18 to 22 could get as many classes as they needed to obtain their driving license.

The price for female learners was €850.

The matter was taken to Zaragoza's consumer rights group which proceeded to fine the driving school €4,000 for sexual discrimination.

Autoescuela Zaragoza, who argued that even their own data showed male learners required five practical lessons fewer than female ones, took the matter to the city courts.

Judge Albar agreed with the stats presented by the driving school, arguing that it's obvious that a fee that offers male drivers more classes than they need for a higher price won't appeal to them as consumers.

Incredible!

This is quite a complex subject, I think.

The evidence shows women are safer drivers than men - hence insurance companies have charged women less when they can. I think they've had to stop this in the UK as it was deemed discriminatory. I wouldn't have minded it if they'd kept this in force as it discourages younger men from getting cars when they are at their most dangerous. I'd much prefer my daughter to be driven by another girl or drive herself, when she gets older, than be driven by a young man. In fact, I'll do my best to ban her from ever getting in a car driven by a male under the age of 25 at least. I think the world would be a far safer place if only women drove.

On the other hand, there is some evidence that men can handle driving for long periods at night-time better than women, so I think there are some ways in which men drive better than women and it's possible that they pick up basic driving skills more quickly than women, but crucially, they don't learn how to drive as safely as women.  Maybe men could be allowed to have the empty roads at night-time (in a world ruled by me)...

In summary, I think the fine should stand - I can't see any legitimate reason for charging males less than females to learn to drive. An hour's lesson is an hour's lesson, regardless of gender and they should just forget the idea of offering an unspecified number of classes to get a licence. In my book, anything which further encourages young men to get behind a steering wheel should be avoided at all costs.

I suggest that the males and females have exactly the same number of lessons and pay the higher fee. The socalled 'unnecessary' lessons for the males (unnecessary to actually pass the test) can then be used to teach them to drive as safely as the females - maybe show them videos of accidents and injuries caused by macho driving and work on their ideas of what it is to be a good and responsible adult male.

Well put eggcup, I am a male driver and have been on the road for 55years and the male female thing is brought about by macho males, I have been one of the macho drivers in the past and had quite a few accidents in that time. The only way to solve the problem is not to allow any male under 30 to drive on the public highway the race track is the place fpr them.

When each week my student son and I drove from uni’ to home we found ways to ease the boredom. One way was to guess the gender of a driver by their standard of driving.

A driver being over cautious, lacking lane skills and in particular hogging the outside lane long before the turning suggested a female driver. The ladies tend to drive under rather than over the speed limit. We got it right nine out of ten times, smug pair of gits.

Bet the judge also thought that male judges are better then woman as well, dopey git.

Might be the reason woman have more lessons then males is because maybe the ladies take more care in driving and want to get as much as possible correct first time, whereas the macho male thinks it was only him who was born knowing how to drive superbly. 

I have seen plenty of women bus and coach drivers in Spain, it they were that bad and in charge of 30 plus passengers it's hardly likely they would be allowed to even take this test.

I am not saying all women are good drivers...But I am saying all men think they are.

Who is better ? 

'Some drivers’ are better than others and 'some drivers' are males and some are females, 'some cars' are black and 'some' are white..  I rest my case.

I thought that the drivers in Spain were all a bit erratic. Men and women alike. I felt quite at home, being a terrible driver :)

Quote: Judge Albar agreed with the stats presented by the driving school....

And, of course, we all know how accurate stats are in Spain....and in the UK, for that matter.

And, yes, I am being sarcastic

Dear all, 

I believe my article in Costa Almeria/Blanca News et al could well be the definitive take on the topic  http://www.costa-news.com/costa-almeria-news/editorial-opinion/item/2064-judge-drives-women-round-the-bend

Regards,

Paul

Having lived in Spain for ten years, I have always felt that Spanish drivers (especially men) are the worst in the world but they tell me Egypt is worse and so is Zimbabwe ! But I don't know either country. The problem is the "bullfighter" mentality and taking risks for the hell of it ! As far as I can see, Spanish drivers neither look nor think. Nor do they stop very often. A favourite trick, when approaching a road junction or side turning, is to look and see if anything is coming (and even that is optional !) and if it is, pull out ! The rule on a roundabout is "never, ever give way to traffic on the roundabout but see if you can get by without hitting it!"As is well known, Spaniards must overtake at all costs; their macho pride depends on it. If it is on a bend or there is a car coming in the other direction, so much the better. Much more fun ! And if you call a Spanish driver an idiot (as most are) he will stop his car and remonstrate with you. Women worse than men? Can't say I have noticed much difference really ! The worst thing that ever happened to Spain was Fernando Alonso winning the World Championship - twice ! That has convinced them that they are the best drivers in the world, not the worst !     

My husband says I'm a good driver because he taught me to drive like a man, this was invaluable to me when driving in Tripoli where I saw grown men refuse to drive and I drove every day across the city, not for the faint hearted. After that experience little fazes me and I think the driving standards in Spain are not so bad and would suggest in Europe at least (nothing compares to Africa) it's better than France or Germany. But generally I do think men have better navigational skills and road sense, women do tend to be ditherers and I can usually spot a female driver a mile off. On long journeys I leave it to my husband who can do a 10 hour day at work and then drive 7 hours through a blizzard which I just couldn't do.

Poppyseed.   On long journeys I leave it to my husband who can do a 10 hour day at work and then drive 7 hours through a blizzard

 As most accidents are related to driver fatigue, I would not say the example you give of your husband puts him in the good driver category but the reverse, and that you think it does, would seem to say you too are not in that category either.

This is what Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents says:-  

http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/policy/statements/driver-fatigue.aspx

Driver fatigue is a serious problem resulting in many thousands of road accidents each year. It is not possible to calculate the exact number of sleep related accidents but research shows that driver fatigue may be a contributory factor in up to 20% of road accidents, and up to one quarter of fatal and serious accidents.

These types of crashes are about 50% more likely to result in death or serious injury as they tend to be high speed impacts because a driver who has fallen asleep cannot brake or swerve to avoid or reduce the impact.

Sleepiness reduces reaction time (a critical element of safe driving). It also reduces vigilance, alertness and concentration so that the ability to perform attention-based activities (such as driving) is impaired. The speed at which information is processed is also reduced by sleepiness. The quality of decision-making may also be affected.

I can assure you I do not have a death wish and would not travel with anyone I thought was not not up to the task for whatever reason. I couldn't do it so I don't, he can and does when necessary.

I’m not quite sure how saying  ” I can assure you I do not have a death wish and would not travel with anyone I thought was not not up to the task for whatever reason. I couldn't do it so I don't, he can and does when necessary”   morphed into being blasé about road safety, absolute rubbish. Some people are capable of doing things others can’t the problem is when those who aren’t capable think they are. As you don’t know the man or his capabilities perhaps you should not make assumptions, believe me when emerges from the blizzard he is still a far better and more alert driver than anyone I know. Professionally he is highly regarded and respected for his stamina and ability to stay focused when others drop by the wayside.

 I would think that when Poppyseed mentioned her husband can do this type of driving okay it was more then likely a bit tongue in cheek, and a generalisation to his good driving, surely you don't imagine he does this all the time just so to prove he can...Do you?

We all know what driver fatigue is so none of us need to be told about it, if this were the case whats to be said about the person who only needs a few hours sleep a night, then drives. Sale's people who drive do this most of the time up and down the country.

When it comes to making comments on other peoples ways and whyfor's of doing it wrong "People who live in glass house's" comes to mind, but then of course no one has that little extra bit of drink and drove home, probably with the kids in the car as well, of course everyone keeps to the 30 mph signs also, and no one talks on mobiles anymore while driving either.