Male aggressiveness is a legacy from caveman days, according to professor Geoffrey Beattie of Manchester University in England.

“Stone-Age man did not drive, but the legacy of his hunting, aggressive and risk-taking past are still evident in the way in which a man typically drives his car,” he said.

In a report for the British Commons transport committee, Beattie said caveman skills were not suited to driving, as the males surveyed showed significantly higher levels of rule-breaking.

However, he said women had a greater frequency of accidents at bends because they were more prone to errors of judgment and perception.

The good news is that the older male drivers get, the more they mellow, according to research released by NRMA Insurance.

A survey of 1000 Australian households by Woolcott Research found 18 per cent of males said they never felt stressed or frustrated at the wheel, compared with 15 per cent of females.

The least stressed drivers were aged above 55 and the most stressed were in their mid-30s to mid-50s.

NRMA Insurance spokesman Frank Adler said those on the road should heed the example of older, wiser drivers. “The over-55s could be less stressed because of their experience, maturity or simply because they have reached a more relaxing stage of life.

“By this age, they have usually been driving for a number of years, meaning the driving processes have become automatic and are less likely to lead to frustration,” he said.

“Our Queensland data shows that younger drivers compared with over-55s are less likely to have lodged car collision claims."