Overconfident men pose a significant risk on Australian roads, with an overwhelming majority believing their driving is above average, a new national survey has revealed.
The survey, commissioned by Continental Tires and conducted by Pureprofile, asked Australian men to rate their driving abilities.
A total of 77% of the 3,005 men surveyed said their driving skills were above average, 22% said they were average, and only 1% admitted they were poor drivers.
Mitchell Golledge, managing director of Continental Tires, said it was important to remain confident when driving but “overconfidence can be dangerous”.
“Our research shows that many Australian men rate themselves as ‘above average’ drivers, yet we are still seeing negative road safety statistics,” he said.
“We would like to remind all drivers to assess their real-world skills, check their tires and take care of road safety to protect themselves and others, especially in the run-up to Christmas.”
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In terms of age groups, Gen X men appear to be the most overconfident, with 81% considering themselves to be above average or amazing drivers.
This is followed by Generation Y (78%), Baby Boomers (75%) and Generation Z (73%).
Overconfidence in driving abilities isn’t limited to the operation of a car, though; 44% of men said they could drive a semi-truck if necessary, while 36% disagreed and 20% neither agreed nor disagreed. .
Overconfidence doesn’t stop there, however, and the study also sheds light on how men view their abilities in other areas.
A total of 27% of respondents said they could fight off a horse, 18% said they could stay stranded in the Australian bush or snowy mountains for a week, and 13% said they believed they could fight a horse. One horse competes. Elite athletes in their sport.
According to survey organizers, these dangerous reactions are also linked to road safety. While 79% correctly disagreed, 11% of Australian men agreed they could drive safely on bald tyres.
Blokes Psychology Male psychologist Craig Hyde-Smith attributes this overconfidence to a number of underlying factors.
“Men score higher on the illusion of control bias, which occurs because we overestimate our ability to control outcomes that are largely determined by external factors or chance,” he said.
“Research also suggests that testosterone may be associated with increased risk-taking behavior. Finally, social norms and expectations can increase pressure on men to appear confident and competent, which may translate into overconfidence.”
To help Australians combat overconfidence and encourage safer driving habits, Continental Tire has created a series of light-hearted educational videos demonstrating the potential risks of overconfidence.
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