Are Women Truck Drivers Better Drivers than Men?

TEXAS. The trucking industry is changing. According to the New York Times, the trucking industry, facing a shortage of 50,000 drivers, is looking to new places to recruit drivers. According to the Times, truck companies, in an effort to gain new drivers, have been recruiting more women and minorities. Only 6 percent of truck drivers are women, but those demographics are changing.

Recruiting women not only increases diversity in the trucking industry, something which is much needed, but it may also have the unintended consequence of making trucking safer. According to Broadly, twice as many men die in car accidents than women. While there remain biases against women drivers, if you look at the statistics, women drivers prove to be far safer than men behind the wheel. Insurance companies agree. On average, women drivers pay $15,000 less than men on car insurance over the course of their lifetimes.

In fact, it’s not just insurance companies that have found women to be safer, other groups, like the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety each note that men are involved in more accidents than women. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety found that 71 percent of highway deaths are men.

In fact, men are more likely to be found guilty of drunk driving, driving while under the influence of drugs, and speeding. Researchers found that when it comes to taking risks behind the wheel, men take more of them.

When it comes to the trucking industry, this apparent gender difference could have an impact on the overall safety demographics of the industry. Would having more women drivers mean fewer truck drivers who choose to drink and drive or who use drugs while driving? Would more female drivers mean greater compliance with federal hours of service laws, and fewer trucks speeding?

Initial research suggests that women tend to act more conservatively behind the wheel, which can translate into fewer accidents and safer driving practices.

The trucking industry has gotten creative when it comes to recruiting. For example, loosened rules mean that truck companies can recruit drivers under age 21 if they have served in the military or if they remain within state lines. While recruiting more women seems like a good move, some critics worry that by recruiting drivers under age 21, the trucking industry is hiring people with inadequate experience.

At the end of the day, all truck drivers have a responsibility to drive safely. If you or a loved one was hurt in a truck accident, you may be entitled to seek damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact the Cooper Law Firm, a truck accident attorney in Texas today to learn more about your rights if you have been hurt. You may only have a limited amount of time to make a claim. Visit us at https://www.cooper-law-firm.com/.

Cooper Law Firm
501 N Third St,
Longview, TX 75601
Telephone: (903) 297-0037