DATA RELEASED by RACV Insurance today shows that men make the majority of motor insurance claims resulting from on-road incidents.

In the last financial year, 53 percent of motor insurance claims were made by men, and the average cost of repairs for claims made by men - $4300 - was eight percent higher than those made by women.

Despite the difference, male drivers appear to be learning. While 2008 to 2009 saw men make 7 percent more motor insurance claims than women, the percentage was 11 percent higher in 2005.

The gap in the cost of repairs has also improved, with the average cost in 2005 being 10 percent higher.

RACV Insurance General Manager Paul Northey said the statistics were not surprising, with nearly 70 percent of Victorian road fatalities in 2008 being males.

RACV claims figures show the under 21-year-old age group had the highest average claim cost of $5,740, followed by the 21-25 year-old group at $5,350.

The group with the lowest average claim cost of $3,670 was the 60-plus age group.

Mr Northey said that young drivers were most at risk as soon as they get their licence. In the first year of driving, the risk of crashing was three times higher than for an experienced driver.

“Drivers aged between 18 and 25 make up about 15 per cent of Victoria’s driving population but accounted for nearly 30 per cent of fatalities and serious injuries,” he said.

VicRoads has launched campaigns recently that target young drivers through online and iPhone-based gaming.

Called City GT, the VicRoads iPhone app is designed to impress upon young drivers the potential consequences of using their mobile phone while driving.

The TAC has launched an in-game advertising campaign in 37 XBOX 360 and PlayStation 3 titles such as Guitar Hero and the upcoming Forza Motorsport 3.