From Croc-wrestling to bald-tyre driving: Overconfidence of Aussie blokes

In news that surprises nobody, Aussie men think they are better drivers. It would be funny if this other data wasn’t so scary.

It turns out Aussie men are overflowing with confidence - not just about their driving but also their ability to wrestle crocodiles, survive in the bush, and even take on elite athletes.

According to a new survey by Continental Tyres, some 77 per cent of men believe they’re better than average drivers.

A majority of Aussie blokes believe they are better than average drivers.

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While that may not sound alarming, research shows that men are also statistically more prone to reckless driving behaviours, like speeding and driving under the influence.

Combined, this confidence and risk taking make for a concerning concoction on the roads.

Continental Tyres Australia managing director Mitchell Golledge said confidence can be good but “overconfidence can be dangerous”.

“Our research shows that many Aussie men rate themselves as ‘above average’ drivers, yet we continue to see road safety statistics negatively rise,” he said.

South Australia has the highest percentage of men who think they are above-average drivers.

The study also found generational differences.

Gen X men lead the pack with 81 per cent rate their driving above average.

Gen Y wasn’t far behind at 78 per cent, followed by Baby Boomers (75 per cent) and Gen Z (73 per cent).

The survey also revealed a disparity between states.

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Younger men are more likely to believe they are skilled drivers. Picture: iStock

Regionally, South Australian men were the most confident, with 82 per cent ranking themselves as better than average drivers and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) had the lowest percentage at 72 per cent.

Psychologist Craig Hyde-Smith, who partners with Continental Tyres on the campaign, said there’s a number of reasons for the overconfidence.

“Men can score higher in the illusion of control bias, which is when we over-estimate our ability to control outcomes that are largely determined by external factors or chance.” he said.

Research has also shown that testosterone can be linked to increased risk-taking behaviour.

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Men are considered more likely to show aggression while driving.

Finally, social norms and expectations can increase pressure on men to appear confident and competent, and this can translate into overconfidence.”

The survey didn’t stop at driving, the study uncovered how men perceive their capabilities in other areas.

A quarter of men believe they could assemble Ikea furniture in under an hour and a few hundred respondents believe they could safely land a plane

Only two per cent claimed they could change a tyre within two minutes - a skill far more useful than wrestling a crocodile, which five per cent also believe they could survive.

Originally published as From Croc-wrestling to bald-tyre driving: Overconfidence of Aussie blokes