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You're running late, your husband's tapping his feet and when you do finally make it to the car, the phrase bat out of hell springs to mind.

Before the road rage sets in, take note of the latest research which confirms that a woman's slow and steady approach is by far the safest in a stressful situation.

Researchers at the University of Southern California arranged a series of psychology experiments aimed how men and women react to stressful situations and the difference was clear.

While the girls remained cautious the guys became risk-takers, more likely to drive dangerously, gamble or take drugs. The 48 volunteers were asked to play a gambling game. Using a mouse and keyboard, each were asked to inflate a virtual balloon with each pump earning them five cents.

Though the participants were able to cash in their earnings at any time, once the balloon burst the money would be lost.

In order to increase stress levels, scientists asked half of the volunteers to immerse their hand in icy water for three minutes before playing the game, thereby raising the levels of stress hormone coritsol.

Both men and women from the control group, who put their hands in room temperature water and whose stress levels did not increase, displayed similar levels of risk before taking the cash.

But the stressed male participants inflated the balloon 48 times as opposed to the women who risked only an average of 32 pumps.

Dr Nicole Lighthall of the University of Southern California, said: "Men seem to enter more risky financial situations than women, which was part of the impetus for the study.

"But only in the stressed condition did we see any statistical differences in risky behaviour between men and women."

And the difference could be down to evolution: "In contrast, women in our study were more conservative after stress – a beneficial response in early human females as risky pursuit of resources in mothers could endanger the lives of dependent offspring," she added.

Dr Lighthall told the Daily Mail: "Obviously, there are situations in the real world where risky behaviour would not be beneficial. Sometimes being conservative, thoughtful and taking it slow are good things."

So next time you're late for that all important dinner date, make sure he hands you the car keys.