It’s official. Men worry more than women about driving in snowy weather, however women are more uneasy driving in the rain.
The revelations, contained in a Beaurepaires-commissioned Newspoll of 1206 Australians of driving age, come as a cold snap hit much of southern Australia last week, bringing a chilly start to winter, along with rain, hail and snow to snowfields and surrounding districts.
Among the findings of the national study:
- One-quarter of men (23%) are uneasy driving in snow compared to one-fifth of women (18%);
- One-quarter of women (24%) are uneasy driving in rain compared to one-third of men (34%);
- Women are more uneasy about high speed driving (15% of women compared to 8% of men);
- Men are more uneasy than women about driving in traffic (29% compared to 19%); and
- Women are more uneasy than men about driving on winding roads (7% compared to 4%).
Beaurepaires vice-president Gary Rowley said the findings suggest drivers are more uneasy about driving in elements they have little or no control over.
“Drivers have complete control over the speed at which they travel and the quality of the roads they use, so it’s interesting that they express greater unease about traveling in bad weather conditions, which they have no control over,” Mr Rowley said.
“Snow, and to a much lesser extent, rain, are conditions that most Australians rarely have to face, so it’s only natural for them to be less comfortable driving in conditions they aren’t used to.”
The Beaurepaires study also asked men and women about what concerns them most about driving, yielding some interesting comparisons.
“Women are far more likely than men to be concerned about their safety while driving (62% compared to 47%), while men are twice as likely as women to be concerned about their own personal comfort (8% compared to 4%),” Mr. Rowley said.
“This isn’t to suggest men aren’t concerned about safety, but it does provide an interesting insight into how some men prioritise their major driving concerns – 2% of men even said looking good concerned them most!”
Getting caught speeding and the cost of petrol are other issues drivers expressed concern over. More men than women are concerned about petrol costs (28% compared to 25%) and men are also more concerned about getting caught speeding (11% compared to 7%).
Mr Rowley said as weather conditions worsened with the onset of winter drivers should take time to check that their tyres are capable of safely navigating wet and slippery roads.
“When it’s raining or snowing the distance to stop your car dramatically increases. Tyre tread plays a critical role in this, so it’s vital they have adequate tread depth to do their job properly,” he said.
A tyre with insufficient tread cannot disperse water quickly enough and, under braking, sits on top of the water surface, resulting in no traction and no braking ability. This is called aquaplaning.
“To combat aquaplaning, tyres must have adequate, legal tread depth. This will significantly reduce the chances of aquaplaning, and will help keep your car on the road in an emergency braking situation,” he said.
Mr Rowley encouraged drivers unsure about the condition of their tyres to get them checked by an expert.
“Beaurepaires offer free tyre safety inspections so that drivers can be confident of the condition of their tyres. This includes a thorough inspection of the tyre to ensure it has sufficient tread and that it is free of any defects, as well as precisely adjusting inflation to the vehicle manufacture’s specifications,” he said.
Tips for driving in snow:
- Plan ahead – check weather conditions before you leave. Monitor radio stations for changing weather conditions as you approach alpine regions.
- Carry snow chains – a logical and legal requirement for cars in alpine regions. Buy or hire them before you leave, and practice putting them on at home. Some wheel and tyre combinations aren’t suitable for chains – particularly low-profile tyres and wheels. Check before you leave.
- Avoid ice – ice can reduce or eliminate steering ability so avoid it where possible. If you find yourself on an icy road drive slowly, and gently apply brakes to regain traction if you lose steering ability.
- Use headlights – where there’s snow there’s often fog, so use headlights to make it easier for oncoming traffic to see you. Avoid using high beams which reflect on the snow.
- Keep your distance – leave plenty of room between the car in front of you should you need to brake suddenly, particularly when descending from alpine areas.
- Be prepared – carry blankets, snow scrapers, a first-aid kit chains and a tow rope in case you run into trouble. Make sure your mobile phone s sufficiently charged.
- Don’t be afraid to break the drive – if visibility is poor, pull over, put on your hazard lights and leave your engine running.
Condition drivers are most uneasy driving in:
| MALE | FEMALE | |
| Rain | 24 | 34 |
| Snow | 23 | 18 |
| Winding Roads | 4 | 7 |
| Traffic Congestion | 29 | 19 |
| High Speed | 8 | 15 |
| Can’t Say | 12 | 8 |
