If you are a man, you are more likely to be involved in a fatal accident on New Jersey roads. While traffic accidents overall are increasing, men are disproportionately represented when it comes to fatalities, a recent report says.
According to the Cheat Sheet, this skew toward male deaths is nothing new. In fact, the number of men killed in motor vehicle accidents was more than double the number of females for almost 30 years in a row. You are not only more likely to die if you are driving a vehicle as a man, you are also more likely to be killed as a passenger. Men aged 85 and older are at the highest risk of dying as passenger, followed by men aged 20 to 24.
There seems to be a number of contributing factors when it comes to the reasons for the difference in male and female fatalities. Typically, men tend to engage in much more reckless and risky behavior behind the wheel. Some of these behaviors include speeding, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and not wearing a seat belt.
While you are less likely to be involved in a fatal crash if you are female, you are more likely to be involved in a fender-bender. Common incidents involving women drivers often lead to:
- Cracked bumpers
- Tire abrasions
- Broken side-view mirrors
- Smashed tail lights
One group of females in particular may be increasingly more likely to be involved in risky driving behavior that could lead to serious accidents. Teen girl drivers have been found to use smartphones for texting or talking while at a rate double that of their male peers.
