Women consider themselves safe drivers, but admit to dangerous behavior behind the wheel

An international survey of women from 33 countries exposed a mismatch between how they evaluate their own driving and what they admit to doing behind the wheel: 97% consider themselves safe drivers and 94% say they drive with full concentration, but almost half acknowledge using their cell phones while driving.

The survey was conducted by the Czech magazine Zenavaute, which specializes in women in traffic, in partnership with the organization Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY). There were 1,720 interviewees, heard by online questionnaire between May and June this year, with release scheduled for the International Day of Women Drivers, June 24. Only 3% acknowledged that they “sometimes drive unsafely”.

The perception of safety, however, comes up against their own answers: although they classify themselves as attentive, 48% of the participants said they use their cell phones while driving and 37% said they usually eat or drink while driving. Among the other behaviors cited are checking on children in the back seat and delivering snacks (18%), smoking behind the wheel (17%) and, to a lesser extent, finishing makeup while the car is moving (5%).

The study also revealed a generational and habit paradox. Women over 55 reported the highest rates of mindfulness, with 58 percent saying they maintain full focus, while the 25-34 age group was the most likely to be distracted. Interestingly, those who drive less frequently tend to say they are more concentrated: among occasional drivers, 65% report total focus, compared to a smaller share among those who take the car every day, possibly because they face driving more deliberately. Among those who drive daily, however, confidence is almost unanimous: 97% think they are safe behind the wheel.

The main stress factor is not children or passengers, but the behavior of other drivers, pointed out by 70% of respondents in all age groups. This is followed by heavy traffic (51%), bad weather and low visibility (36%), time pressure (36%) and difficulty parking (34%).

In the safety of children, the numbers are more encouraging. More than 75% of mothers say they frequently check that their little ones are secured correctly, and most say they are able to install and adjust car seats. Driving with their children in the car, by the way, is not usually seen as stressful: only about a quarter of mothers pointed to the situation as a source of anxiety.