Ladies, if your health insurance premiums are higher because they figure in maternity benefits, be encouraged when it comes to your automobile insurance. This is where we get the break. It is not because they are just treating us like “ladies” either. It is because we have earned it. The statistics are showing that women are more cautious, less aggressive drivers. I have proven this to be true from experience. Let me share a little story with you that will back up these facts.
Recently, my husband and I were driving in a busy city in a third world country. This city has few driving rules. All you are required to do to get a license is pay the fee. No driving test is required. I drive in this same city at times, but I am amazed at the differences in how we manage the traffic. My driving technique is “defensive” driving. His strategy is “conquer and kill”.
I come from a family of female gaspers. When your are faced with a close call, you gasp. Well, this is annoying to my husband. I am learning to ride in the passenger seat with my eyes closed. It’s the only way I can keep from gasping.
Driving calmly through the city, this mini bus began to merge into our lane. He wrongly assumed my husband would drive like any other local, reduce his speed, and let him bully his way in front of him. Well, this “conquer and kill” male had no such thought. My husband never even braked. I was very proud of how I watched this vehicle side swipe us and never uttered one gasp.
It was not until after the mini bus had scraped down the side of our car, that he realized my husband was not budging and returned to his lane. He looked over at my husband and gave him a look that said, “Don’t you know how to drive?”
Now, I want to ask you, “Is it any wonder why insurance companies give women cheaper rates?” Several days later, I brought the subject up at home. I knew better than to say anything in the car at the time.
I said to my husband, “Now there’s the difference between you and me. I would have opted to slow down and let the taxi driver get in front of me rather than letting him hit me.” He had no rebuttal. It was true. It would have violated his masculinity to let that guy “conquer” him!
Of course, insurance rates are not being based on my husband’s driving (thank goodness). But, they are based on proven statistics. And, ladies, you are going to love this! Women have been shown statistically to be more overall more reliable drivers, and they file fewer claims.
The conclusions drawn by insurance companies are that women tend to be more cautious. Most of them are so convinced of this fact that they are willing to bet on it by giving them a cheaper rate.
Studies reflect that when women get in an accident, there is less damage done to the vehicle. That’s probably because we use the brakes even if it is the other guy who should! The story above is a case in point.
The insurance companies have found that women are less aggressive. I could have told them that years ago from driving with my husband.
Another interesting fact, that was brought out in one study I read, was that more women pass the driving test on the first try than men do. This has nothing to do with intelligence (the article pointed out), but that women tend to practice and prepare more for the test. (It must have been a woman who found that tidbit of information!)
So ladies, we may not be first in traffic, but we can take that extra 10% we’ve saved on our monthly premiums and get our nails done!
