According to a recent survey conducted by MetLife Auto & Home American Safety Pulse Poll, women are perceived as being safer drivers than men. Thirty-nine percent of men felt they were safer drivers than female drivers, but 35 percent were not sure which gender was the safer driver. Women took a more definitive stance: 51 percent said they were safer drivers than men and 24 percent were unsure.

Poll respondents also expressed that each gender could learn from the other when it comes safety on the road. Men have more of an edge when it comes to being familiar with safety related automotive technologies. The poll shows that 58 percent of men versus 28 percent of women were more likely to familiar with electronic stability control— a feature that improves steering and prevents accidents.

One thing that everyone can agree on is what technological features they want their next automobile to have. More women than men prefer:

To drive a car with technology upgrades (women: 57 percent, men: 53 percent)
GPS (65 percent, 61 percent)
Forward collision warning (60 percent, 53 percent)
Rear-view cameras (58 percent, 53 percent).

Both men and women agreed they would pay extra for upgraded technology.

“Despite the long-standing, good-natured debate between men and women about who is the better driver, one thing that's not debatable is the responsibility drivers have when operating their vehicles,” said Bill Moore, president of MetLife Auto & Home. “Safety knows no gender—whether a man or a woman is behind the wheel, an attentive driver remains the most effective deterrent to auto accidents.”

Special Reports /

IQ: Poll: Are Men or Women Safer Drivers?

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