Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Distracted Driving: Men vs. Women

Nearly one in 10 drivers admitted to fixing their appearance behind the wheel, but women outdid men with 11% saying they engaged in the risky behavior versus 4.7% of men, according to a new survey from Finder.com.

by Staff
April 5, 2018
Distracted Driving: Men vs. Women

Photo via Pixnio.

2 min to read


Photo via Pixnio.

Nearly one in 10 drivers admitted to fixing their appearance behind the wheel, but women outdid men with 11% saying they engaged in the risky behavior versus 4.7% of men, according to a new survey from Finder.com.

The professional services company surveyed over 2,000 American adult drivers about their riskiest driving habits and compiled the data in Finder's Safe Driving Report 2018.

Ad Loading...

According to the report, 138 million American adults have admitted to driving while distracted. While both genders engage in risky driving habits — gender sometimes plays a role in which behaviors they choose.

For example, while women groom more often while driving, men are more likely to speed — with 31.9% of male drivers reporting they drive over the speed limit compared to 28.4% of female drivers. Men are also more likely to drive under the influence, with 3.5% men admitting to this risky behavior versus 2.5% women. A greater number of men — 18.9% versus 17.2% of women — said they drive while fatigued.

However, when it comes to cell phones, gender doesn't make much of a difference. Both sexes are equally culpable, with 45% of females and 44.8% of male drivers admitting to talking on cell phones behind the wheel. Moreover, 16.0% of women and 16.7% of men surveyed admit to texting.

Overall, women are more likely to concentrate on their driving than men, with 42.8% of women drivers saying they don't get distracted behind the wheel, compared to 38.4% of men.

Read the full report here.

More Safety

red ram recall image
Safetyby Faith HowellAugust 3, 2026

Ram Recalls More Than 1.27 Million 1500 Pickups for Seat Belt Anchor Issue

The recall affects certain 2019-2026 Ram 1500 pickups that may have improperly attached second-row seat belt buckle anchors.

Read More →
A shot of a Volvo electric vehicle with a man charging it in front of a residence.
SponsoredAugust 1, 2026

Top 50 Executive Fleets

It is that time of year again! Time for the 2026 list of the Top 50 Executive Fleets, presented by Automotive Fleet and Volvo as part of its annual Fleet 500. Download now to see this year's list of companies!

Read More →
Promotional graphic for a Utilimarc guide titled How Better Visibility Cut Speeding Violations by 48% featuring a call-to-action to download the guide.
SponsoredJuly 17, 2026

How Better Visibility Cut Speeding Violations by 48%

Fleet leaders don't need more data, they need clearer visibility into what the data is saying. This case study explores how one utility replaced speeding-event counts with a single metric — miles driven in violation — to strengthen safety and significantly reduce speeding violations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Smiling commercial truck driver gives a thumbs-up from inside a tractor cab during Operation Safe Driver Week 2026, highlighting fleet safety, responsible driving and enforcement awareness.
Safetyby Judie NuskeyJuly 16, 2026

Operation Safe Driver Week: Why the Industry's Oldest Safety Campaign Still Matters to Fleets

A look at how a 2007 enforcement initiative became one of the most consequential weeks on the fleet safety calendar, and what it means for your drivers in 2026.

Read More →
Nexar and nauto logos
Safetyby StaffJuly 13, 2026

Nexar-Nauto Merger Aims to Give Fleets Better Safety Intelligence Through Larger Driving Dataset

Stefan Heck tells Automotive Fleet that combining more than 10 billion miles of driving history with Nexar's AI models will give fleets deeper insights into driver risk and roadway conditions than either company could provide independently.

Read More →
A black square with white color font text
SponsoredJuly 2, 2026

From Silos to Solutions: Relationship Management for Safer Fleets

From telematics adoption and driver accountability to policy consistency and risk mitigation, this episode breaks down what it really takes to build a safer fleet culture without slowing business down.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
IIHS HLDI text overlaid on the trunks of pick up trucks.
Safetyby Chris BrownJuly 2, 2026

IIHS Launches First Commercial Vehicle Safety Evaluations

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has begun evaluating heavy-duty pickups and cargo vans for driver protection. Which models earned top marks?

Read More →
A blue and white Automotive Fleet podcast logo
SafetyJuly 1, 2026

Reducing Risk by Eliminating Phone Use Behind the Wheel

Hosted with the cofounder of Lifesaver Mobile, this episode addresses phone use behind the wheel and how to design a driving environment that actually helps prevents accidents.

Read More →
Two people sit across from each other at a desk during a business meeting. One person, wearing a white shirt, has their hands folded while the other gestures with a pen toward documents clipped to a clipboard. Additional paperwork and a calculator are visible on the table, suggesting a discussion involving contracts, finances, or administrative paperwork. Sunlight filters through window blinds in the background, creating a professional office setting.
TelematicsJuly 1, 2026

Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-Time Prevention (Part 2 of 2)

Part Two: Commercial auto remains one of the most challenging and costly lines of coverage for fleet operators and insurers alike. Continue learning more about how to effectively address these issues from Onur Aksan, Enterprise Business Development Executive, Geotab

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An Automotive Fleet podcast thumbnail
SafetyJune 26, 2026

How 5-Second Telematics Data Is Changing Fleet Safety

This episode connects with Steve Santostasi of Ford Pro and covers how a few seconds of data can make a difference in fleet safety.

Read More →