Women learner drivers are much more vigilant about checking their mirrors than men, a study has found.
But it’s a different matter when it comes to reversing or turning. Unlike men, female drivers find mirror work is second nature. It is, of course, a vital safety requirement of the practical driving test.

Men are 10 per cent more likely to accumulate a mirror fault mark, failing to get to grips with driving backwards and executing a three-point-turn (turn in the road) will trip up 40 per cent more women than men.

Women learners, according to the study, have 51.9 hourly lessons compared to 36.2 for men – spending £1,141 against £790

The male test pass rate of 46 per cent is higher than women’s (40 per cent), while men need fewer hours to study for both the theory and practical driving test. Women take an average of 2.12 tests to pass, while men take 1.87 tests. The entire process from first lessons to test pass usually takes men about 12 months while women need 14.6 months on average.

Simon Bush of Britannia Driving School said: “Men are better when it comes to learning to drive because they’re less risk averse. But women’s “safe” nature means that when they do get on the road, they tend to be much better drivers than their male counterparts.”

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The DSA (Driving Standards Agency) has been trialling a new system at its call centre which it says will help cut down on waiting times. Callers joining a queue will be offered the option to use Call Back Assist. They will be prompted to speak their name, and key in their telephone number.

After confirming the number, the caller will be instructed to hang up. The system will then keep the callers’ original place in the queue, and when it reaches the next available Agent, will phone the number back

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Two Thirds of child seats are not fitted correctly and over 83 per cent of drivers are not aware of UK car seat legislation, according to new research by the baby seat manufactures Britax.

More than 66 per cent of respondents stated that they didn’t know that the law requires children up to the age of 12 to use a car seat and 80 per cent were not aware that UK law requires children under the height of 135cms to use a child seat.

Nearly three quarters of respondents (74 per cent) were not aware of the ISOFIX system, where car manufactures provide small and inconspicuous attachment points in standard locations in new cars onto which car seats can be attached directly, thereby reducing the risk of incorrect fitting.

Simon Bush of Britannia Driving School said: “It’s shocking that despite the great safety advances in child seat design over the past 10 years that such significant numbers of child car seats are still fitted incorrectly. Our children are our most precious cargo so we must do all we can to keep them safe and keep within the law.”

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An examiner could be awarded up to £15,000 after suffering whiplash injuries during what he called “the worst test of his career”.

Andrew Carmichael, 35, suffered injuries when test candidate Lisa Connolly braked sharply with the wrong foot, forcing another vehicle to take evasive action. He subsequently sued NIG Insurance, insurers of the Vauxhall Corsa used on test.

The Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled that the insurer was liable for the examiner’s injury, describing Mr Carmichael as “a reliable and accurate witness.”

In what Mr Carmichael described as a “memorable examination” Miss Connolly mounted the pavement during the reverse parking manoeuvre and got stuck during her turn in the road.

A further hearing will determine damages.

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