A new study by the University of Michigan found that women outnumber men on the roads for the first time in U.S. history. According to the research, from 1995 to 2010 the number of licensed men between the ages of 25 and 29 dropped by 10 percent, compared to less than 5 percent for women. In the year 2010, more than 105 million women were licensed drivers, compared to 104 million men.
Researchers predict that, if this trend were to continue, women would reshape the auto industry. Everything from fuel consumption to the number of traffic infractions given out on the roads may be tied to driver demographics, as women are more likely to purchase vehicles that are smaller, more fuel efficient and require less long-term auto repair, AutoBlog reports.
"The changing gender demographics will have major implications on the extent and nature of vehicle demand, energy consumption and road safety," said study co-author Michael Sivak, as quoted by USA Today.
Males have dominated the roads since the days of the Ford Model T. The gap has been closing throughout the past two decades, culminating with the recent data from 2010.