Men are from Mars, women are from Venus, right? Just like men and women tend to think differently, act differently, and do things differently, they crash their cars differently too. A new study from Kansas State University found that gender and car crash type are directly linked.

Young women are more likely to be involved in accidents in intersections and with pedestrians, and tend to crash more often during weekday work hours. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to crash at night on the weekend- the complete opposite. Men are also far more likely to have an off-road crash, and for the crash to be deadly.

The research found that women are 66 percent more likely to wear their seatbelt, but are 28 percent more likely to drive on a restricted license. In 2008, men were found to be three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than women, according to the National Highway Traffic Administration.

According to the research, males tend to be higher risk-takers, accounting for 71 percent of all traffic fatalities, 70 percent of all pedestrian fatalities, and 87 percent of all cyclist fatalities. These statistics are a major reason car insurance rates are quite a bit higher for a 20-year-old man than they are for a 20-year-old woman.

“There are often different risk factors for young male and young female drivers because their behavior and attitude are generally different,” Sunanda Dissanayake, professor of civil engineering said. “This may help explain why one gender is more likely to be involved in a certain type of crash. For example, young males may have more off-road crashes because this crash type is more frequently involved with speeding on rural roads — a driving habit exhibited more by young males than young females.”

Here at Glenbrook Hyundai, we can’t control your driving habits, but we can help you find a safe car to call your own. Stop by today to learn more!