By Maria Famakinwa
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A civil servant, Mr Olabode Sawo, could not control his anger when his car was hit from the back by a female driver who instead of apologizing claimed to be right as she maintained that she was on her lane. It took the intervention of other road users before Mr Sawo could refrain himself from pouncing on the woman.
Sawo, who insisted that his vehicle must be repaired said: “Female drivers generally are proud and arrogant. I have observed that most of them who are learners would not hang the learning sign while driving just to cause problems for other motorists. How could someone hit my car from behind and still claimed to be right? Besides, I just brought my car out after spending three weeks at the mechanic shop, I will accept nothing than getting my car repaired.”
The above ensued drama was a pointer to the age-old debate of which sex is better when it comes to driving. Stereotypes have a big role to play in the perceptions of each gender and this is even more pronounced when it comes to how the two genders handle steering on the road. Though, some men who spoke with The Hope, explained that many variables go into driving, from passing the driving test, to the day-to-day behind the wheel, but insisted that most female drivers put up “I too know” attitude behind the wheel and never accept their fault when they are wrong.
A commercial driver, Mr Peter Olumuyiwa, who shared one of his many experiences with female drivers said: “I am always careful when I sight a female driver either at my back, front or beside me because they are too heady. I have had many experiences with them but the recent one was in the second week of February this year along Oba-Adesida road, this female driver with Prado Jeep, was at my back speeding, as soon as I sighted her, I did everything possible to avoid her, but as a commercial driver, I wanted to pick passengers at Oyemekun Grammar School. While trying to park for my passengers, this woman hit my car from behind, it was her car that got damaged because of the iron protector at the back of my car. When she parked and discovered that her car has been damaged, immediately, she held my trouser shouting that I must fix her car.
“She called her husband and he came with a law enforcement agent who got me arrested, when we got to the station and explained what happened, she was found guilty, yet she insisted that I must repair her car. Her husband told her to let me go but she refused. Aside the fact that she was guilty, I didn’t have money to repair such a car, even if I was the one at fault, I would have released my car to her since there was no way I could cough out such money. She later released me on the insistence of her husband. I have so many bitter experiences with female drivers likewise other male drivers. Most of them still need to be practising within their streets yet, they would want to put their cars on the expressway to show off. I don’t pray to have issues with female drivers because they claim to know it all and look down on male drivers as if they are better,” he said.
Sharing a similar experience, another car owner, Mr Yemi Olowoyelu shared his encounter: “I was driving along High School that very day when a female driver overtook me from the right and brushed my car. Instead of accepting that she was wrong, she accused me of not watching my side mirror and asked me if I was with my correct sense.
“People who witnessed her rough driving told her that she was wrong to have overtaken me from the right side, but she kept on telling me that I drove under the influence of alcohol. Her attitude angered me and I wanted to beat her up, but I restrained myself before people start castigating me for beating up a woman. How could someone who overtook a vehicle from the right side claim to be perfect?
“The attitude of most female drivers on the road are becoming risky to other motorists. The most annoying aspect of it is that they will still be argue that they are right. If it is a man like me, the issue can be easily handled female drivers are arrogant and saucy. I never wish to have any case with them. If I am driving, I don’t want them either at my back or front. I like to give them enough space.”
Asked if it was a male driver who bashed a female driver’s car, he said that it was better imagined than experienced. “I mean such a driver will not go in peace. He will not be released without fixing the damaged car. The situation will be worse if the damaged car owner is lettered. There is no grammar the male driver will not be described with. I have witnessed a scenario when a commercial driver mistakenly hit a woman’s car who happened to be a school principal. She refused to let the driver go until a mechanic was called to fix her car. I will rather prefer my car to be bashed by a female driver than me bashing their cars because of their trouble. If you ask other male drivers, they will tell you a similar experience” he added.
