Yes, it’s Penelope Pitstop, checking her make-up in the vanity mirror

DRIVE ON THE ROAD

YOU may have thought in this day and age of enlightenment, we’d have moved past gender comparisons. Sadly not. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has released statistics that many commentators have been at pains to argue prove women are significantly better drivers than men.

So, we’re going to go there? Okay, the first question that springs to mind is: really?

Well, in a world according to number crunchers, 115 years after driving licences were first issued, there is now empirical proof womenfolk are more skilful on our roads. And, here’s the science bit.

There are currently 40,361,967 licence holders in the UK, of whom 21,819,606 are men and 18,542,361 women. When it comes to the 10,600,617 penalty points on licences, however, women have ‘only’ 2,932,119, compared to the 7,668,498 held by men.

The offences that won these points include drink-driving, using a mobile phone and, of course, speeding.

And the thinking is, if only 28 per cent of penalty point holders are women, they must be more proficient behind the wheel.

Hmm. To my wee brain these figures could lead to different conclusions.

Women are much more wily at not getting caught and men are just plain bad – criminally minded to the core.

It could also be women are risk-averse while men are attracted to thrills and seek out every opportunity to confound Darwin in the evolution of our species.

This last theory may be supported by the fact when the Government suggested raising the motorway speed limit to 80mph the greatest opposition came from women. An AA survey of 13,000 drivers found, while 73 per cent of men gave the change a high five, 41 per cent of our ‘more skilful’ women thought this was crazy talk.

Of course, one thing that doesn’t get a look in in any of these theories about men versus women is an actual scientific measure of skill.

The truth is the act of gender comparison itself perpetuates myths and misdirection about one sex being better than the other.

Sports psychologists have always claimed self-confidence is a primary driver in an athlete’s success. Similarly, the stereotyping of women as weaker drivers will surely negatively impact their performance. Men, meanwhile, are seen as innately superior simply because having greater confidence in their own driving means they’re perceived to show more proficiency. It’s a vicious circle that’s tighter and more dangerous for society than a threepoint turn in the Clyde Tunnel.

Away from the stats, it’s not unfair to examine anecdotal evidence based on personal experience. And my personal experience shows a 50-50 split.

Stuck on the morning commute behind a flashy VW Golf Gti trundling along in the outside lane? Yes, it’s Penelope Pitstop checking her make-up in the vanity mirror.

Losing years as a Micra is manoeuvred with the accuracy and speed of an oil tanker into a Tesco car parking space? I’d put my house on the fact Granny Ina is at the helm.

A Scooby so close on your tail the driver is in your back seat? The overwhelming odds favour Testosterone Trevor is trying to show off his rally skills and failing spectacularly as he brakes through every turn and loses his back end on every exit.

Gender stereotyping? Perhaps, but it’s such people we meet on the roads every day who put the car into such caricatures with bad behaviour and poor driving.

Ultimately, behind the wheel we’re aw Jock Tamson’s bairns. DOMINIC RYAN Convertible. Since then 89,000 have been sold in the UK.

In March 2018 the new Convertible launched in the UK featuring design and technology upgrades. To mark its latest milestone, Mini UK is launching a special 25th Anniversary Edition. Complete with anniversary tread plates and plaque, along with an exclusive combination of Lounge leather upholstery in Satellite Grey with a Starlight Blue metallic exterior, this highly exclusive model looks great with the roof up or down.

A limited run of just 300 models will be available at Mini dealerships nationwide with prices starting at £32,995 on-the-road.