Women at the wheel want a better deal

Nothing confuses a man more than a woman driver who does everything right. But the guy at the insurance firm is not that man. He knows it’s a safer bet to trust a woman behind the wheel.

From Britain to Germany and Spain to the Netherlands, insurance firms give women tailor-made schemes and special deals on premiums. A recent survey by the British price comparison website moneysupermarket.com, of over six million insurance quotes, found that women get better deals as they are considered ‘safe and mature drivers’.

But such chivalry is not observed in India, although insurance sector experts say it’s time the firms became gallant. “Women drive less and slowly. So, they have lower accident rates and lower-magnitude accidents. They definitely deserve a better deal,” says Yashish Dahiya, founder and CEO, PolicyBazaar.com, an insurance aggregator. “Since there is different risk attached, the premiums should be different too.”

To be fair to insurance firms, some do offer services like free assistance to a woman if her vehicle breaks down. “We offer on-the-spot help for women to resolve mechanical problems like keys getting locked and punctured tires,” says Vijay Kumar, head, motor insurance, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance.

But women drivers say this is not enough, that they deserve the insurance deals their counterparts in the West get. “I think women require added insurance benefits as research clearly shows that we are safer drivers,” says Prachi Shetty, who has been driving her car for six years without incident.

“Women drivers are more cautious as they are answerable to many people. Also, we do not like getting into police hassles; so we stick to the law,” says Jasmine Roy, a public relations professional. “I particularly drive slowly as my motto is to save the car and myself.”

She says other drivers harass her on the road, purposely honk and overtake her, but it is not a bother.

Sohail Kapadia, co-owner, Good Luck Motor Training School, says: “Women are more curious during theory classes. They ask a lot of questions about what precautions to take when children are in the car and how to check for overheating. On the road, too, while men just step on the accelerator, women take their time.”

Karishma Talreja, psychologist says: “Women have this motherhood instinct — the need to protect everyone around them, even when driving. They do not go against the rules, follow safety norms and are extremely cautious.”

Revathi Roy, proprietor, Forshe, an all-women cab service, says: “Every  driver is given training in road skills and martial arts.” The service, with a reputation for safety, is popular, even at night. But when Roy — who drove a cab for 15 years — launched it in 2007, she faced a lot of flak.

The efforts of women like her should be complemented in equal measure by insurance firms. That will be testament to a vehicle being safe when a woman is in the driver’s seat.