Discovery Insurance recently released a report detailing which province boasted the best and worst drivers in South Africa, as well as whether, in fact, women are better behind the wheel.
According to the report, Cape Town drivers come out on top, with Johannesburg drivers speeding their way into sixth place.
But really, who is the better driver?
The Battle of The Sexes
The Discovery Insurance report claims that the country’s best drivers are women over the age of 66, while men between the ages of 18 to 25 take the cake for being the biggest hazard on the road.
According to the 2017 Road Traffic Management Corporation’s Road Fatality report, the highest number of driver fatalities were recorded from the age group of 25 – 44. This age group contributed to 26% of all driver fatalities between 2016/ 2017 respectively. The report also stated that there were more males fatally injured in accidents than females.
Why does this matter?
According to 1st For Women’s Jolene Chait, women are currently paying less for their insurance claims. “It’s a well-known fact that statistically, the cost of repairs to vehicles crashed by women is on average, lower than the cost of damage caused by men. This is further supported by statistics that state that in South Africa, the cost of the average car claim by an 18-year old male is R11 997.00, while that for an 18-year old woman is R8668.00.”
What Is ‘Women-Centric’ Insurance?
1st for Women is South Africa’s first and only ‘women-centric’ insurance brand and we are wondering if more companies may follow this trend.
Chait explains that this brand has conducted thorough research into women and insurance and have found that women are less of a risk on the road.
In 2004, data depicted that more women were taking out their own insurance, however, there were no insurance companies willing to cater for their needs. “Women are extremely time-pressed and also safety is a huge concern for South African women. Our aim is to keep women safe and make their lives easier while at the same time, provide a product offering that meets their needs and requirements as women,” says Chait.
How Are Women Benefitting? To read more click here