Male Motorists Must Be Brighter When it Comes to Breakdowns

GRAVESEND, UNITED KINGDOM – October 28, 2009: Male motorists are almost three times more likely to be killed or injured on the hard shoulder than women, according to new research from car care specialists, Comma.

Department for Transport statistics show that over the last 15 years, 2,058 men have been killed or injured on the hard shoulder, compared to 768 women when their cars have broken down by the roadside.

Across Europe, high-visibility clothing is compulsory for motorists in an effort to reduce such incidences.

Studies have shown that wearing high-visibility vests can increase the distance at which other road users can spot stranded drivers by up to 400 percent. Comma is giving away 150,000 free high-vis vests on 5-litre packs of its Performance Motor Oil range as part of its ‘Safe and Seen’ campaign.

“Once you’re outside of your car in the dark, you’re effectively invisible,” said Comma’s Mike Bewsey. “The male tendency is to get under the bonnet and try to fix the problem but, if you can’t be seen, you’re asking for trouble.”

As winter approaches and the hours of darkness are increased, improved visibility is even more important. Accidents at night are twice as likely to lead to a fatality as during the daytime.

UK law continues to lag behind that of many of its continental cousins – legislation in Belgium, Croatia, France, Italy and Spain states that all motorists must have a high-visibility vest in the car at all times in case of breakdown. Three further countries insist that professional drivers carry them.

In the event of a breakdown, drivers are advised to vacate the car and move to a safe distance from the roadside.

Philip Hodson, Fellow of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, reveals that the common belief that men are more stubborn and self-deluded about their own abilities is to blame for the fact that so many more male motorists are hurt on the hard shoulder.

He said: “Men tend to be ego-driven, meaning that they prefer to be seen as the ‘rescuer’ in situations like a car breakdown. They will, more often than not, tend to believe that they can fix the problem even if, in reality, they couldn’t even begin to comprehend the car’s technology.

“Women, on the other hand, are more realistic – about their own technical competence, the danger involved in the situation or even just that they don’t want to get their hands dirty. So they are naturally more inclined to follow the safety rules.”

For further information and to find your nearest stockist, visit www.commaoil.com and click on the Where to Buy button.