November 2, 2009

New research from car care specialists, Comma, has revealed that male motorists are almost three times more likely to be killed or injured on the hard shoulder than women. 

In recognition of this alarming statstic they are 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.

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. 

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.  Across Europe, high-visibility clothing is compulsory for motorists in an effort to reduce such incidences.  In France the failure to carry a high visibility vest or jacket is punishable by an on the spot fine.

“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 the darkness are increased and the days both shorter and colder, improved visibility is even more important. Accidents at night are twice as likely to lead to a fatality as during the daytime and cars are more prone to malfunction, forcing drivers out of their cars and into the path of danger.

UK law is less prescriptive than 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.”

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