No surprises here – busy women drivers are failing to do simple checks on their cars through mechanical ignorance allegedly (HELLO – isn’t this an opportunity for a female friendly proposition?) whereas men simply cannot be bothered, according to a recent survey from automotive parts company ( and insurance provider) Kwik-Fit.
This means that poorly maintained cars are less safe and more likely to break down or have accidents as a result.
Kwik-Fit customer services director David White said: “The research seems to support some traditional views of male and female attitudes to car maintenance. However, whatever the reasons for so many drivers not checking their cars between MoTs, the result is that their car could have faults which aren’t spotted for up to a year. Around a third of cars fail their MoTs on illegal tyre tread, unsafe brake wear or a damaged windscreen.”
What David fails to highlight is that these cars may well be unsafe for their owners and/or dangerous to other motorists and pedestrians.
The poll reveals that as many as 19% of motorists do not carry out any maintenance checks at all between MoT tests. Women owners who do not make any checks are twice as likely as men because [sic] ‘they do not know what they are looking for.’
No patronising judgement there then Kwik Fit…
On balance, I don’t think this makes ignorant women drivers any less culpable than lazy men but I am surprised that insurance companies are not insisting on proof of regular maintenance from them (which FOXY could provide of course…)
Yes this is scary from a road safety point of view but it is now time for
1 Â the industry to realise that it needs to get the safety message across to ALL motorists and
2 Â insurers to start to penalise motorists who don’t get their cars checked regularly.
Shameless plug follows – women drivers who are members of FOXY Lady Drivers Club can take advantage of FREE quarterly car fitness checks carried out by FOXY approved garage professionals and which include tyres, oil, coolant levels, emissions and a seasonal check such as the car’s air conditioning system, brake fluid levels, anti freeze and battery performance.
SO why don’t women’s car insurers reward female motorists who can demonstrate taking care of their cars?
FOXY Steph
