Marie-Axelle Granié is a researcher in social development psychology at Gustave-Eiffel University and the author of numerous publications on gender differences in risk perception in road safety.
This behavior is not specific to motorists. Pedestrians and cyclists can also be aggressive. This happens when something or someone seems to be entering our personal zone, or the space assigned to us by the road layout. The heavier and faster the vehicle being driven, the more dangerous the behavior can be for others. What's more, when we're in a car, inside an object that moves and belongs to us, the intruder is perceived as a threat to our physical body space.
Stereotypes about men and women behind the wheel take root very early in life. Around the age of 11, there's a strong belief that men are naturally competent drivers and can afford to take risks, with risk-taking seen as proof of mastery over the vehicle. Men aged 18 to 25, in particular, display these behaviors to show that they belong to the male group.
Studies also show that the more we adhere to male stereotypes, the more inclined we are to take risks on the road and exert dominance over other road users. These findings apply to all ages and all modes of transport, whether car, motorized two-wheeler, bicycle or scooter.
The image of the woman behind the wheel is built up in a negative way, around the age of 13-14. Women are said to be naturally incompetent, and their caution is said to prove their incompetence. In France, jokes about "women behind the wheel" are still commonplace, whereas in any other field, this type of sexist discourse is no longer considered acceptable. As a result, women internalize the presumption of incompetence and find it harder to get their driver's licenses. Conversely, men who fail their driving test have a very hard time dealing with it.
Yet men account for at least three-quarters of all road fatalities in every country in the world, even those that are most committed to gender equality. These findings apply regardless of mileage. In France, men drive an average of 11,000 kilometers a year, and women 10,000, but men make up 83% of those presumed responsible for accidents.
Parents also believe that it's natural for boys to take more risks. Girls are told they're fragile and vulnerable, but boys are vulnerable too. So it's a question of education. We need to educate boys about risk, just as we do with girls.