Can women drive better than men? New licence data settles debate

Ahmedabad: Women have matched — and in some instances outperformed — men in driving licence tests in Ahmedabad, challenging long-held gender stereotypes around driving skills, according to Regional Transport Office (RTO) data.

Figures from the Ahmedabad RTO show that in first-attempt driving tests for both two-wheelers and four-wheelers, nearly 60% of men and 58% of women cleared the track test, indicating only a marginal difference in performance.

Data from the Subhash Bridge RTO over the past three financial years further underscores the trend. On average, 54% of women passed the four-wheeler driving test on their first attempt, slightly higher than the 53% recorded for men.

The shift is more pronounced in the 2023–24 financial year, when the number of women clearing the four-wheeler driving licence test was 11% higher than that of men, pointing to changing patterns in driving test performance.

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For two-wheeler driving licence tests, officials said around 84% of men and 77% of women passed on their first attempt, reflecting a higher success rate overall but still a narrowing gender gap.

However, regional variations persist. Data from the Vastral RTO showed 67% of men cleared the track test compared to 47% of women, highlighting differences in performance across test centres, as reported by 'Gujarat Samachar'.

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Transport officials said the overall data indicate no significant gender gap in driving ability, even as social perceptions continue to lag behind evolving realities.

In recent years, more women have taken up driving across vehicle categories, including cars, two-wheelers, buses, auto-rickshaws and ambulances, signalling a broader shift in mobility trends and workforce participation.