Are females better drivers?

There were 34,758 detections for motoring offences in Northern Ireland between 1 December 2023 and 30 November 2024, 82% of which were committed by male drivers.

CompareNI has examined the latest PSNI statistics and, via a Freedom of Information request, reviewed the gender split per region across Northern Ireland year on year.

Male drivers in Northern Ireland are still committing more motoring offences than female drivers, as males accounted for 8 in 10 of all motoring offences detected between 1st December 2023 and 30th November 2024.

The biggest male offence was driving without insurance, with 4,853 offences, while for women the biggest offence was speeding, with 1,324 offences.

The council area with most motoring offences was Belfast City with 2,761 offences by men and 541 by women. In second place was Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon with 2,141 offences by men and 477 by women.

NI Councils Motoring Offences by gender between 1 June 2024 and 30 November 2024.

In terms of overall motoring offences, total detections decreased by 17% on the 41,767 detections recorded in the previous 12 months. The largest offence group overall was insurance offences with 5,875 offences, which along with speeding (4,840), accounted for almost one third of the total detections.

By policing district for the period, November 2023 to October 2024, 21% of motoring offences were detected in the Belfast City district, 7,247, the most in Northern Ireland, followed by 15% in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon with 5,095, followed by Newry, Mourne and Down with 3,457.

Those aged 30-49 accounted for over two fifths of motoring offences detected between 1 December 2023 and 30 November 2024 where age is known, 14,936 offences followed by those aged 18 to 29 (37%) with 12,960, followed by 4,850 offences in the 50-69 bracket. Over half of those detected for mobile phone offences were in the 30-49 age bracket.

In Northern Ireland there are serious penalties for driving without insurance, including a £5,000 fine, up to six months imprisonment and between six to eight penalty points.

Despite insurance offences being the largest offence group, the current cost of car insurance in Northern Ireland is starting to decrease, with an average premium of £659 as of December 2024.

CompareNI.com is Northern Ireland’s largest price comparison website and can help drivers in Northern Ireland find savings on essentials and everyday household bills such as breakdown cover, van and young drivers insurance. 

References:

https://www.psni.police.uk/sites/default/files/2025-01/Motoring%20offences%20monthly%20update%20to%20end%20November%202024.pdf

https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/news/northern-ireland-road-safety-strategy-nirss-2030-annual-statistical-report-2024-published

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministers-bring-together-industry-experts-and-consumer-champions-to-tackle-spiralling-costs-for-drivers

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/penalty-points-guidance#toc-6