Female drivers have heavier right foot in rental cars

A study of driving habits in rental cars has revealed that female customers are more likely to exceed the speed limit than their male counterparts. 

Telematics technology provider, In-Car Cleverness, which monitored the hire of more than 10,000 rental vehicles over a six-month period, recorded the surprising findings.

Analysis showed that women exceeded the speed limit 17.5% more on average. Despite that, they returned far fewer cars to the rental company with damage than men.

In-Car Cleverness found that 84% of the cars returned with dents, scratches and punctures had been rented by male drivers. It also recorded a rather more expected link between damage to rental cars and the number of speeding incidents recorded in those vehicles.

Overall, the average number of speeding incidents was 57* for men and 67* for women. Female drivers who damaged cars sped more often – averaging 90 speeding cases. Men who returned vehicles with damage exceeded the speed limit 82 times on average.

Paul O’Dowd, of In-Car Cleverness, said: “While the number of cars damaged by the opposite sexes varies, the behaviours which result in damage are consistently similar. The statistics show a clear correlation between vehicle damage and instances of speeding, harsh braking and acceleration.”