Originally posted by: Vic
It's a scientific fact that testosterone levels are closely related to spatial awareness and perception. It also affects attention and aggression.
Driving a fast-moving vehicle is just not something that humans evolved to do. Being the hunters, men have some evoluntionary headstart on it, while women, being the gatherers, have virtually none.
Your statement reminds me of something that happened two days prior to my wedding.
I took a quick lunch to run and have my nails/toes done at a local salon. I had left work and was traveling eastbound on a two lane residental/commerical road with a speed limit of 45mph.
Ahead of me cars were coming to a complete stop and rather quickly. As typical when I am forced to stop faster than I feel is safe, I glance in the rearview mirror to see what the person behind me is doing "reaction wise". It was a large pick-up truck, the kind with dual wheels in back and he seemed to not see everyone stopping. Then I started to hear a screeching noise (his tires). I had two choices.
1) let the guy hit me.
2) seek out an alternate place to put my car in the two or three second time-frame
I chose the latter and to the left side of the road there was a salvage yard with some parked cars and a gravel lot. Coming in the opposite direction was a woman in a small car, I noticed her already braking. Between her car and mine it appeared there was at least three to four car lengths. So I quickly chose to take a left turn into the salvage yard lot. Fortunately the woman coming the other way saw me and slowed even more. I did not see what happened to the truck but kept hearing the tire squeals while I was making my turn. Just as I stopped my Mazda 6, I heard a huge CRUNCH.
My car was unscathed when I jumped out after putting her in park. I glanced over to see the large pick-up had a 14' RV trailer behind it. The guy had apparantly slammed on his brakes while trying to move his truck onto the small emergency lane. He slid off the road and into a small brick retaining wall on the right side. I guess that was the big crunch I had heard. Miraculously I was unhurt and no one else was hurt. The only thing damaged was the guys pick-up.
I walked across the street once the police arrived to give my statement, and could hear the guy saying "It was amazing. Whoever was in that black car managed to get out of the way. Thank God, because I didn't think I move in time to avoid hitting them. Where did the black car go?" As I'm walking up, that's what I hear him saying... and I smiled at him, pointed across the street and said "It's right there, and I'm the driver." The guy was so grateful I had reacted as I did. I just about lost my lunch the whole thing happened so fast and shook me up pretty badly.
Needless to say, some women drivers are quite capable of handling the aggression, perception and mindset needed to be great drivers. I've never been more thankful that I love playing video games, particularly racing games... as I was that day.
edited for spelling mistake