New research from OOONO, the company behind the CO-DRIVER road-safety device, has revealed a stark gender divide in speeding fines among UK motorists. On average, men are paying £804 in speeding penalties—more than double the £324 paid by women. Even more striking, 21% of men admit to paying over £1,000 in fines over the past year, compared with just 3% of women.
So, what’s driving this discrepancy?
According to OOONO’s findings, the answer appears to lie in behaviour rather than systemic bias. Men are consistently more prone to risky driving habits, including distractions and overconfidence on the road.
Risky Behaviour Behind the Wheel
The survey highlights key differences in driving behaviour between men and women:
- Mobile phone use: 43% of men report checking their phones while driving, compared to 26% of women.
- In-car infotainment distractions: 36% of men admit being distracted by in-car entertainment systems, versus 15% of women.
- Financial impact: 35% of men say speeding fines affect their monthly finances, compared with 24% of women. Alarmingly, 18% of men report being late with their mortgage due to fines (8% of women), and 10% have borrowed money to cover fines (3% of women).
- Other distractions: Men are more likely to be distracted by back-seat passengers (21% vs 16%) or sat-nav notifications (14% vs 8%). Conversely, women report being more distracted by oncoming headlights (57% vs 48%).
The survey also highlights that women generally feel less comfortable driving in challenging conditions, including at night (47% vs 33%), heavy rain (55% vs 45%), and snow (52% vs 44%).
Expert Insight
Sean Morris, UK Chief Operating Officer at OOONO and former Chief Engineer of Electrical at Aston Martin, explains:
“We see from our research that men drive faster and take more risks, likely due to overconfidence. That confidence can be misplaced, and the fines speak for themselves. Tools like CO-DRIVER give all drivers the nudge they need to stay alert, stay within the limit, and avoid costly mistakes.”
Morris adds that CO-DRIVER’s design philosophy is simple yet effective: “The simplicity of CO-DRIVER makes driving safer and cheaper by reducing the likelihood of speeding fines, regardless of your gender. Our mission is to give drivers reliable, real-time information without increasing distraction.”
Drivers Want Safer, Simpler Tools
The gender-based findings form part of OOONO’s wider Driver Distraction Survey, which revealed that 81% of UK motorists want a simple, screen-free device that alerts them to fixed and mobile speed cameras, as well as upcoming hazards—without adding the distractions of screen-based technology.
CO-DRIVER delivers exactly that. The device provides discreet audio and visual alerts for speed cameras, traffic incidents, and road hazards, helping drivers stay aware of their surroundings while keeping their eyes on the road. By combining simplicity with effectiveness, it helps reduce risky behaviours and costly fines for drivers of all genders.
The Takeaway
The research makes one thing clear: men are paying the price for riskier behaviour on the road. By leveraging technology like CO-DRIVER, all drivers can benefit from safer, smarter driving, reducing both stress and financial penalties.
