A new national survey has revealed overconfident men pose a major risk on Australian roads, with an overwhelming majority of men believing they’re above-average drivers.
Commissioned by Continental Tyres and conducted by Pureprofile, the survey asked Australian men to rate their own driving ability.
Of the 3005 males surveyed, a total of 77 per cent said they were above-average drivers, with 22 per cent claiming to be average, and just one per cent admitting they were bad drivers.
Continental Tyres managing director Mitchell Golledge says it’s important to be confident behind the wheel, but “overconfidence can be dangerous”.
“Our research shows that many Aussie men rate themselves as ‘above average’ drivers, yet we continue to see road safety statistics negatively rise,” he said.
“We want to remind all drivers to assess their true skills, check their tyres and stay mindful of road safety to protect themselves and others, especially ahead of the Christmas period.”
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In terms of age groups, Gen X men appeared the most overconfident, with 81 per cent rating themselves as above-average or amazing drivers.
This was followed by Gen Y at 78 per cent, Baby Boomers at 75 per cent, and Gen Z at 73 per cent.
Overconfidence in driving abilities wasn’t limited to the operation of cars though, as 44 per cent of men suggested that they could drive a semi-trailer truck if necessary, while 36 per cent disagreed and 20 per cent neither agreed nor disagreed.
However, the overconfidence doesn’t stop on the road, with the study also uncovering how men perceive their capabilities in other areas.
A total of 27 per cent of respondents said they could fight off a horse, 18 per cent said they could survive a week stranded in the Australian bush or on top of a snowy mountain, and 13 per cent said they believed they could compete against an elite athlete in their sport.
According to the survey’s organisers, these risky responses are also tied to road safety. Despite 79 per cent correctly disagreeing, 11 per cent of Aussie men agree that they could drive safely on bald tyres.
Blokes Psychology men’s psychologist Craig Hyde-Smith attributes this overconfidence to a variety of potential factors.
“Men can score higher in the illusion of control bias, which is when we overestimate our ability to control outcomes that are largely determined by external factors or chance,” he said.
“Research has also shown that testosterone can be linked to increased risk-taking behaviour. Finally, social norms and expectations can increase pressure on men to appear confident and competent, and this can translate into overconfidence.”
To help combat overconfidence and encourage safer driving habits amongst Australians, Continental Tyres has created a series of light-hearted educational videos that demonstrate the potential risks of overconfidence.
