Bollywood actress Gul Panag says the notion that women are not good drivers comes from a strong stereotypical conditioning where men are given more importance.
The actress says the conditioning begins at a very young age where girls are told to do only certain things.
"Statistically, women are actually better drivers. If you look up statistics there are lesser women involved in accidents than men, but it's also because there are lesser drivers," said Gul.
"The thing is we do stereotypification at a very young age. At a young age you are told that if you are a girl, then you just do arts you don't need to do science or if you are a girl then you ride a gearless scooter because you can't change gears," she added. The 38-year-old actress, who is also a licensed pilot, feels these notions "have been put in our head at a very young age."
"Typically in a household if there is a boy and a girl and they are similar in age the boy will get a chance to learn to drive first. It's because of the conditioning that happens in our environment that women are perhaps less confident and this is why they are less reckless and safer drivers because they are involved in lesser accidents statistically."
Gul says "we are a young democracy" and so are "obsessed" with rights but often don't give much focus on duties.
"We are taught about our fundamental right in school, but no one remembers our fundamental duties as there never has been a focus on following them,”