Female and male drivers’ sex roles, driver skills, and driving-related sex stereotypes

Introduction Differences between male and female drivers have been observed in various driving outcomes, from behaviours to crash involvement. Although sex differences among these outcomes have been extensively studied, investigating these differences by focusing on sex roles, driver skills, and stereotype endorsement for female and male drivers has not been an effort in the previous literature. Objective With respect to these, the present study aimed to examine sex stereotypes associated with driving among drivers in Türkiye and how drivers’ perceptions of their own sex roles and driver skills were related to these stereotypes. Method In order to do that, the study was conducted with 323 drivers between the ages of 19 and 25 (M = 21.57, SD = 1.57). Participants completed a survey battery including the Bem Sex Roles Inventory (BSRI), Driver Skills Inventory (DSI), sex stereotypes associated with driving endorsement measurement (SSAD), and a demographic information form. Results A series of ANOVAs and hierarchical moderated multiple regression analyses were conducted to test the relationships between the variables of the study. Results showed that females perceive female drivers as more compliant with speed rules than males, and males endorsed male drivers’ driver skills more than females. In addition to direct positive relations of safety skills with speed compliance, risk avoidance, and courtesy, different two-way interactions in relation to the indexes of sex stereotypes were observed. The interaction results showed that different levels of sex roles play a role in how people endorse driving-related sex stereotypes. Additionally, it was also found that, for female and male drivers, different levels of perceptual-motor skills resulted in differences in the evaluation of specific driving-related sex stereotypes. Conclusion In general, the findings indicated that sex, sex roles, and driver skills of the evaluators are important factors in understanding their relationships with the driving-related sex stereotype endorsement. The findings contributed to the literature with an additional understanding of the sex, sex roles, and stereotypes issues and are discussed in relation to dynamic relations in the traffic system.