Age of chivalry lives on, according to Semperit survey 04-01-05

Age of chivalry lives on, according to Semperit survey

92% of Irish male drivers would stop to help a female motorist change a wheel, according to a survey by tyre company Semperit. The study, of over 300 motorists nationwide, revealed that 81% of all drivers, and 71% of females, claim they would pull over to assist, yet fewer than half admit to having actually done so. Drivers in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway are markedly less likely to help out than drivers in less urbanised areas.

One-fifth of male motorists admitted that the more attractive the ‘damsel in distress’, the more likely they would be to stop. However, the reverse was true of women: over one quarter of female drivers said they would be less likely to help out an attractive lady in need of help – so much for the solidarity of sisterhood!

Unsurprisingly, the Semperit study found that drivers’ willingness to stop at night was lower than during daylight. This was especially true of female motorists, fewer than one-third of whom would consider pulling over to help someone stranded at night. Men claimed to be less concerned: only 25% said they would not stop at night-time.

Interestingly, drivers of small cars are less likely to help out than Jeep and MPV drivers. This is in line with the finding that motorists with children were more likely to help out than those without.
93% of male motorists and 59% of female motorists said they have been in a position in the past where they needed to change a wheel at the roadside.

“In addition to the interesting and, indeed, amusing findings thrown up by this survey, there is a very important road safety and personal safety message, in particular for female motorists,” commented Paddy Murphy, General Sales Manager for Semperit Ireland. “It is important that all motorists are capable of changing a wheel on their car should the occasion arise.

“Thankfully, with improvements in technology, tyres are much more durable, so the need to change a wheel is less common. And with the proper up to date equipment and tools, you don’t need to be built like Arnold Schwarzenegger to be able to remove a wheel. Female motorists should make it their New Year Resolution to learn how to change a wheel.”

The survey was commissioned by Semperit Ireland and was carried out by European ICT Research.