Male drivers taking more risks - survey

Nearly a quarter of male respondents said they sped 'most of the time'. File photo / Northern Advocate

Male motorists take more risks than women at drink-driving and speeding, an AA Insurance survey has found.

The survey of 4336 drivers aged 18-65 found men were more likely to drink and drive than women, with 32 per cent of men and 24 per cent of women saying they had driven when they were probably over the limit.

Nineteen per cent of men said it was OK to drive after a few drinks as long as they felt capable, compared with 9 per cent of women.

The same percentage of men said they sometimes altered their driving route to avoid being breathalysed after drinking, compared with 11 per cent of women.

Nearly a quarter of men (24 per cent) said they broke the speed limit "most of the time", compared with 16 per cent of women, but 90 per cent of those breaking the limit said they exceeded it by only 5-10km/h.

When asked why they kept to the speed limit, 47 per cent of women and 36 per cent of men said it was due to safety.

AA Insurance deputy general manager Martin Fox said men were more confident than women in their driving abilities and took more risks, but they also spent more time behind the wheel.

Men were also more confident in their ability to teach others to drive.

The drink-driving figures were "cause for real concern", and the survey results suggested risk-taking behaviours could be passed on to the next generation of drivers, he said.

- NZPA