Who Causes More Car Accidents Men or Women? UPDATED 2025

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Who Causes More Car Accidents Men or Women? UPDATED 2025

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

The old argument of who are worse drivers—men or women—never seems to die. While car accidents are never fun no matter who is causing them, it’s understandable that you might be curious, so we did a little digging to find out who causes more collisions, and you may be surprised why.

Who Causes More Car Accidents Men or Women?

Men are generally more likely to be involved in car accidents than women. However, women often face more severe consequences from accidents. For instance, young female passengers in light trucks have a 20% higher risk of fatality compared to their male counterparts in similar situations. Additionally, women are at greater risk in frontal and passenger side collisions.

According to researchers at the University of Michigan, who analyzed 6.5 million car crashes in the United States between 1998 and 2007, women drivers were found to be involved in 68.1% of all crashes. Interestingly, the researchers also found that men were driving 60% of the time overall, while women were only driving 40% of the time. In other words, despite women driving less often, they were more frequently the ones causing accidents. However, this isn’t necessarily saying that women are poorer drivers than men, just that they more commonly get into accidents. So, why might that be?

Who Drives More?

Men. Males drive more miles per year, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Federal Highway Administration supports their finding and reports that men drive an average of 16,550 miles each year. Women drive an average of 10,142 miles annually. Ultimately, women drive 30% less than men do on an annual basis.

Furthermore, women are more likely to have driver’s licenses than men. According to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, 104.3 million men and 105.7 million women in the U.S. have drivers’ licenses. As you might imagine based on these numbers, there are more unlicensed men driving around than women. Fourteen percent of car crash fatalities involved unlicensed male drivers, whereas the number for women was only 9%.

Whose Car Crashes Are Deadlier?

Men. The IIHS reports that crashes with male drivers are more “severe.” Another study, done by Scottish researchers in 2004, stated that male drivers caused 94% of accidents that caused death or bodily harm.

The IIHS also reports that males are more likely to speed, drive without seat belts, and drive while intoxicated. Since 1982, speeding has been a contributing factor in driver deaths for men more often than for women. According to the Insurance Information Institute, male drivers were responsible for 37,477 fatal crashes while women were responsible for just 13,502 fatal accidents in 2017. The University of Michigan reports that women drive less yet have a lower fatality rate per mile driven than men.

Women, though, despite being more likely to buy safer (and more gas-economical) cars, are less likely to survive serious car accidents. Why? Female drivers die in more crashes because the men who hit them are more likely to be driving big trucks. According to the IIHS, when cars of the same size hit each other, survival rates among the genders are even.

Who Gets More Traffic Tickets?

Men. Less than 30% of all traffic violations are given to women drivers. Statistics show, for example, the number of men killed in accidents involving speeding is 3,420, whereas the number of women killed in speeding accidents is just 927.

Comparing Traffic Tickets and Driving Habits

Men are more likely than women to engage in high-risk driving behaviors, including speeding, impaired driving, and seat belt non-use, contributing to higher crash and fatality rates across all age groups.

• Speeding: 20% of male drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding, compared to 12% of female drivers. Among teen males, the rate rises to 38%.
• Alcohol Impairment: 33% of fatally injured male drivers had blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) at or above 0.08 percent, compared to 24% of female drivers.
• Seat Belt Use: Male drivers are statistically less likely to wear seat belts, which significantly increases the likelihood of fatal or serious injuries in a crash.
• Aggressive Driving: Behaviors such as tailgating, rapid lane changes, and road rage incidents are more frequently associated with male drivers, particularly those under the age of thirty.

In contrast, women tend to follow traffic laws more consistently, avoid high-risk situations, and generally engage in more defensive driving. They are also less likely to speed, drive impaired, or engage in aggressive maneuvers. This contributes to their lower overall crash rate and safer driving reputation, even though they face higher injury risks when crashes do occur, often due to vehicle design and biomechanical differences.

Who Gets More DUIs?

Men. Since 1982, the number of male drivers that die because they were driving intoxicated and crashed has been “substantially higher” than female drivers, reports the IIHS. In 2010, men were arrested for four out of five of the DUIs that occurred in the US. The disparity is particularly pronounced in male drivers under age 34. This demographic is only 11% of the adult population but accounts for 32% of the DUIs nationwide.

Who Causes More Accidents?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that men cause an average of 6.1 million accidents per year in the US, and women cause 4.4 million accidents per year. Males do 62% of the driving, but only cause 58% of the accidents. So women do cause slightly more accidents per capita than men. A study by the University of Michigan found that female drivers mostly cause “fender benders” (non-injury accidents). Considering that women are safer drivers on every front than men, why might they be involved in more fender benders?

Car Accident Statistics by Gender

Understanding how gender affects car accident outcomes begins with a closer look at the data. When asking who has more car accidents, male or female, the numbers clearly point to men. 

According to the most recent data from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), men account for a significant majority of traffic-related fatalities across nearly all crash categories, including those involving drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and pedalcyclists.

Here’s a breakdown of fatality data by gender across different crash categories:

Key Takeaways:

In Illinois, the gender gap in traffic fatalities is stark—especially among drivers. Nearly 80% of all driver fatalities were male, a figure that reflects both increased exposure and a higher likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors such as speeding or impaired driving. 

When it comes to passenger fatalities, the numbers were more balanced, with a slight majority involving female victims, particularly in multi-occupant vehicle collisions. However, the disparity widens again among vulnerable road users.

Male pedestrians accounted for about two-thirds of pedestrian deaths, and the difference was even more pronounced among pedalcyclists—where over 90% of fatalities were male, often due to speed, visibility, or helmet use. Taken together, the data shows that men made up approximately 72% of all traffic-related deaths statewide, highlighting a consistent and significant gender-based trend in fatal crash outcomes.

These findings mirror national patterns, but highlight how they play out at the state level. Men are more often behind the wheel in fatal crashes and are also more frequently the victims in vulnerable road user categories. In contrast, women tend to be less involved in fatal crashes overall, though they often face greater injury severity when they are involved.

What’s the Cause?

One of the reasons women may find themselves involved in car accidents more often is because since men do more of the driving overall, women may have less experience and may not be as confident behind the wheel. Another reason may be that women are typically shorter than men and may not be able to see as well, especially at intersections. Another study, done by Scottish researchers in 2004, however, stated the opposite; in their research, they found that male drivers caused 94% of accidents that caused death or bodily harm.

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Crash By Motor Vehicle Type (Updated Statistics)

The following are some of the most recent available statistics regarding car crash statistics in the United States for a recent year:

• 5,735 female drivers died compared to 14,498 male drivers who died in passenger vehicles.
• Large truck drivers— 14 female drivers died compared to 468 male large truck drivers.
• Motorcyclists— 5,587 male motorcyclists died compared to 488 female counterparts.
• Bicyclists— 824 male bicyclists died compared to 121 bicyclists who died in motor vehicle crashes.
• Overall, 30,747 males died in motor vehicle crashes compared to 12,051 female fatalities.

Drunk Driving Accidents Statistics

The proportion of fatally injured drivers in passenger vehicles with blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) at or above 0.08% has been substantially higher for male drivers than their female counterparts.

In one year, 4,773 male drivers with BAC  ≥ 0.08 were fatally wounded compared to 1,329 females who died as a result of drunk driving.

Speeding Statistics

Generally, male drivers are involved in speeding driving, which causes accidents leading to severe injuries and fatalities. The percentage of men involved in speed-related accidents was higher for men in all age groups, with drivers under the age of 20 having a higher speeding-involvement crash rate than any other age group.

In a recent year, 6,607 male drivers were involved in fatal crash involvements compared to 1,887 female drivers.

Why Men Cause a Higher Number of Accidents

Driving More Miles
Men tend to drive more miles per year than women, which increases their likelihood of being involved in an accident. In 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 5.39 million male drivers were involved in crashes, compared to 3.72 million female drivers.

High-risk Behaviors
Men are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as speeding, drunk driving, and aggressive driving, which contribute to the majority of crashes. Over 70% of traffic citations for these behaviors are issued to men

Distracted Driving

Some believe that men are better at filtering out distractions and maintaining focus on their surroundings while driving, which can help in preventing accidents. Distracted driving is any activity that takes away the driver’s attention from the road. According to NHTSA, distracted driving claimed the lives of 3,275 lives in a recent year. Typical forms of distracted driving include texting or talking with the phone, adjusting the car’s stereo, and talking to people in the vehicle.

Distracted driving involves three forms: visual, manual, or cognitive distraction. A driver is at risk of an accident if they fail to give full attention to the driving task.

Poor Weather Conditions

A driver is at higher risk of a car accident in poor weather conditions such as rain, snow, fog, hailstorms, or high wind. For instance, rain causes poor visibility, making driving difficult. Similarly, rain storms make windshields become hazy and unclear.

Drivers can avoid vehicle accidents by driving slowly in rainy weather since it takes longer to  halt during wet conditions.

Drunk Driving

Drunk driving causes accidents because of the alcohol’s effect on the brain. When intoxicated, a driver suffers impaired coordination, decision-making, and reasoning, vital aspects of safe driving.
An alcohol-impaired driver commits mistakes they rarely make, including speeding, unsafe lane changes, and disobeying traffic lights.

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving is a serious traffic offense where a driver disregards the safety of other road users. Driving with disregard for the safety of other road users causes injuries, fatalities, and property damage.
Examples of reckless driving habits include ignoring traffic signs, tailgating, running red lights, and driving on a pedestrian path.

Overspeeding and distracted driving are common causes of reckless driving habits.

Why Women Face Higher Injury Risks

While women are involved in fewer crashes, they are more likely to suffer severe injuries in comparable accidents due to a combination of biomechanical differences and vehicle safety designs that do not adequately account for female physiology.

Crash Test Design and Safety Gaps

This vulnerability stems from both physiological differences and systemic issues in vehicle safety testing. Historically, crash test dummies used in federal safety evaluations have been modeled after the average male body. As a result, many vehicles are not fully optimized to protect women in the event of a collision. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), this lack of diversity in crash test representation contributes to a gap in safety outcomes. Women are at greater risk of lower leg, spinal, and internal injuries, particularly in frontal collisions.

Seating Position and Injury Severity

Additionally, women are often seated closer to the steering wheel—especially in smaller vehicles—which can increase their risk of injury in head-on or airbag-deployment crashes. This seating position places vital areas of the body closer to potential impact zones, reducing the effectiveness of certain safety features. In crashes of similar severity, women have been shown to suffer more frequent and serious injuries than men, despite lower overall crash involvement. These outcomes highlight the need for more inclusive safety testing and vehicle designs that consider a wider range of body types and driving positions.

Need a Chicago Car Accident Lawyer?

No matter who causes the accidents, they can be devastating. From medical bills to damaged property, you may end up with quite a bit of expenses to make up. That’s why consulting with a car crash attorney is vital—they can help fight for your right to be compensated.

If you’ve been in an accident, Steven Malman at Malman Law should be your first choice. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

FAQs About Who Causes More Car Accidents

1. Who causes more car accidents, men or women?
   Men cause more fatal car accidents overall, though women are involved in more minor collisions.

2. Why does it appear that women are involved in a higher percentage of crash-causing events despite driving less often?
   Statistics can appear that way because women drive fewer miles, so their accident rate per mile can seem higher.

3. How many miles do men drive on average compared to women, and how does that affect accident risk?
   Men drive about 60% more miles than women, increasing their overall exposure to accidents.

4. Are male drivers more likely to engage in risky driving behaviours?
   Men are more likely to speed, drive under the influence, and take other driving risks.

5. Which gender’s crashes tend to be more severe or fatal?
   Men’s crashes are generally more severe and more likely to result in fatalities.

6. What differences exist in traffic citations, DUI involvement, or seat-belt use between men and women?
   Men receive more speeding and DUI citations, while women tend to wear seat belts more often.

7. Why are women more likely to suffer serious injuries in comparable accidents?
   Vehicle safety systems are often designed using male body models, putting women at higher injury risk.

8. How do vehicle safety designs and crash test modelling contribute to injury differences?
   Most crash tests are based on male dummies, so safety features may not protect women as effectively.

9. How does seating position, body size or physiology influence injury severity in women?
   Women’s smaller stature and seating distance from airbags can increase the likelihood of certain injuries.

10. Do gender differences in exposure affect crash statistics?
    Yes. Because men drive more often, they have higher total crash numbers, while women’s rates per mile may differ.