When it comes to driving, women are far safer and more law-abiding than men, according to government figures.

Male motorists were responsible for 88% of all driving offences that resulted in findings of guilt in court in England and Wales in 2002, the Home Office statistics showed. Furthermore, men committed almost all the most serious offences, such as causing death and dangerous driving: women committed just 6% of the death or bodily harm offences in 2002 and just 3% of dangerous driving offences. Men were also responsible for 96% of vehicle thefts and 97% of offences relating to motorcyles.

However, women's share of speeding offences rose from 13% in 1998 to 17% in 2002. The category in which women committed the highest number of offences was obstruction, waiting and parking - being responsible for 23% of cases in 2002. Female offences relating to driving with excess alcohol or drugs in the system also increased - up from 9% of the total in 1998 to 11% in 2002.

Overall, women's share of motoring offences rose only 1% between 1998 and 2002.