Women's rear-view skills not reflected in driving tests

Female learner drivers are better at checking their mirrors, but they are let down by poor reversing skills, says the British Automobile Association driving school, revealing men pass in a shorter time and take fewer attempts.

Keeping an eye out for other motorists may be a female speciality, with men 10 per cent more likely to make a mirror-related fault.

But when it comes to reversing and turning in the road, 40 per cent more women than men will fail their test attempting these manoeuvres.

Parents with daughters may need to set aside more money to get them qualified for the road.

Compared with men, women tend to take another two and a half months to pass their test, needing another 15-16 hours of tuition.

Linda Hatswell, of the AA driving school says: "Statistically, men have the edge when it comes to the number of tests they take before they pass.

"Although the difference between the sexes among 17-year-old learners is marginal, men are roughly 10 per cent more likely to pass between the age of 18 and 24.

"This is no bad thing, of course, as women are also proven to be safer drivers in the long run.

"Generally, men are more technically minded and tend to pick up the practical skills more easily.

"Women, on the other hand, often interpret what they are taught and develop their own technique when putting it into practice, which may take a little more time."

The true disparity comes with the length of time it takes to learn to drive. The AA believes that much of that comes down to the calibre of instructor.

Consequently, the AA driving school has been the only national school in Britain to insist that its instructors have first completed their training and obtained the full qualifications before beginning to teach learner drivers.