Men are better drivers, one in four women believe

Research finds 28 per cent of female motorists believe their other half is better behind the wheel

Women are four times more likely to say their partner is a better driver than them, according to a study conducted by the AA.

A total of 28 per cent of female drivers polled said their other half was a better driver, while only 7 per cent of men said the same for women.

A total of 7 per cent of women claimed they were better drivers than their partners, while 15% of men said they were better than their partners.

The survey was conducted across 24,700 motorists, with 37 per cent of women polled claiming they were the more careful driver, while only 16 per cent of men accepted their partner was safer than them.

Men from the North East were least likely to admit women were better drivers, with only 5 per cent conceding their partner was more skilled behind the wheel. Those in Northern Ireland, East Anglia and London were most likely to concede at 8 per cent.

It comes despite figures that show men are nearly twice as likely as women to be killed in a road accident, with the likelihood of a man being killed or injured in an accident on a non-built-up road standing at 20.6% - compared to 12.7% for women.

AA president Edmund King said: "Women are still more likely to be in the passenger seat and more likely to think their partner is a better driver despite the trend showing women making more car trips as a driver while the trend for men declined.

"The accident figures still clearly show that males are more likely to be involved in crashes.

"You may be a more confident and sharper driver than your partner, more skilful with the controls, reading traffic, manoeuvring and taking opportunities, but it doesn't mean the person in the seat beside you shares your self-assurance.

"The AA would advise that, just occasionally, partners should check with their other half whether they are happy with how they are being driven - rather than forcing them to sit in silence with gritted teeth."