Women 'closing gap on men' over driving licences

Women are closing the gap on men when it comes to owning a driving licence, new figures show.

A decade ago there was a 20-point difference, with 81% of men owning a full car driving licence compared with 61% of women.

But in 2013/14 the disparity had almost halved to 13 points - 80% of men and 67% of women.

AA president Edmund King said the figures, which were released in the Department for Transport's annual National Travel Survey, show that the days of driving being the preserve of men are long gone.

He told the Press Association: "Women have always had a high influence on the purchase of cars, even when it's the husband buying it.

"But in the past five years it's gone beyond that and more women are going out and learning to drive."

Mr King said that once people reach the age of around 20 there is little difference in the proportion of males and females who believe they need a car.

The motoring expert added that women drivers are responsible for some of the aggressive behaviour which takes place on Britain's roads.

"We are seeing equality of the sexes behind the wheel much more than 20 or 30 years ago," he said.

"It's the good and the bad.

"When you look at things like road rage and parking rage, it's not just the domain of the male."