Worldwide, there are 1,35 million fatal road accidents every year, meaning that around 3 700 people die every day in car accidents on the road. Male drivers cause most accidents, although the gender cap is not the same in every country, according to a study by Compare the Market Australia.

The gender gap in terms of accidents caused by male and female drivers is the smallest in Japan, but the country where you are least likely to be killed in a car accident is the UK, while South Africa is the most road-unsafe country in the world.

Gender gap is highest in South Africa

Compare the Market Australia, a price comparison website for indemnity and life insurance, among others, analyzed the number of total fatal accidents per 100 000 people in 20 different countries and compared whether male or female drivers cause more accidents.

The study shows that Japan has the lowest difference in accident rates between male (5,0) and female drivers (2,3), meaning that men are responsible for 2,7 more fatal accidents there than female drivers.

Japan is followed by the UK and the Netherlands, with 3,2 and 3,5 differences in accidents caused between men and women, respectively. Belgium ranks ninth, with a difference in accident rates between male (8,6) and female drivers (3) of 5,6.

Looking at the countries with the largest gender gap between male and female drivers, South Africa stands out. There, men are involved in 25 more accidents per 100 000 people than women, followed by Brazil (21,3), Colombia (20,2), and India (16,4).

And for the best female drivers, you have to be in the UK, with only 1,6 fatal accidents involving female drivers per 100 000 people. In second place is Spain (1,8), followed by Germany (1,9), the Netherlands (2,2), and Japan (2,3).

British drivers are the safest in the world

The UK also has the lowest road fatality rate, with only 6,4 fatalities per 100 000 people, followed by Japan (7,3), Germany (7,6), Spain, and the Netherlands (7,9 each). Belgium ranks 11th here with 11,6 fatal accidents per 100 000 people. With a national speed limit of 70 miles per hour (112 kph), down to 30 mph (48 kph) in built-up areas, this could explain why, regardless of gender, British drivers are some of the safest in the world.

As for the highest number of fatal accidents per 100 000 people, again South Africa leads the list with 44,8 fatalities per 100 000 people, followed by Brazil (32,5), Columbia (31,2), and India (30,4).

In turn, a study by worldpopulationreview.com states that you are most likely to have a fatal car accident in Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic. South Africa only ranks 34th in their list, with all but Thailand, Dominican Republic, and Saoudi Arabia being sheer African countries.

Women drive better than man

Commenting on the findings, Compare the Market Australia says that when it comes to driving skills, it is not really a battle of the sexes, as individual skills and experience can vary greatly. Relatively speaking, in most countries, men also have more driving licenses than women, also because men usually have jobs that require them to be on the road.

But a study by the British Medical Journal also shows that women are a better driver than men. Even if women were driving as often as men, they cause significantly fewer accidents. Women tend to be more careful and attentive in traffic. They follow traffic rules better and take fewer unnecessary risks.

In addition, women are calmer. There is less so-called ‘road rage’ and associated risks. But in general, as this Australian study also shows, you can say that while driving a passenger car, the risk of an accident is double to triple if there is a man behind the wheel.