As drivers, we often hears stories about awful breakdowns in the snow, of friends running out of petrol miles from the nearest town, and of people getting stuck in floods, mud or ice with a dead mobile battery and miles to walk for help.

Worse, we see and read reports in the media of drivers being attacked in deserted car parks, or of drivers being hijacked at deserted intersections. All these tall tales make us nervous when driving alone, but in reality, these incidents are usually freak occurrences, which, while not all preventable or avoidable, are certainly manageable.

Of course, when driving alone, you are more at risk if you should be unlucky enough to be attacked while in your car, but driving safe can help you to escape such a situation unscathed. Locking your car doors is an obvious first step to stop a would-be attacker from gaining access to your vehicle, and prevents opportunist thieves from opening doors and snatching valuables while you are stopped in traffic or at a red light.

Also, keep your purse, wallets, handbag and or other valuables out of sight, which means less temptation and enticement for thieves. When you stop to fill up on fuel, lock the car. Someone could easily steal your whole car from under your nose, with a full tank of petrol to boot, while you fiddle around the vehicle, so keep it locked.

And seriously, don’t pick up hitchhikers, strangers or people you don’t know. If you wouldn’t let them in your house, don’t let them in your car. If you are unlucky enough to break down, rather call your breakdown cover providers, or a friend or family member, and wait for help, before you accept a lift from stranger.

If you don’t already have breakdown cover, then speak to your car insurance provider as they usually offer a breakdown service in addition to your motor insurance cover. Rather be safe than sorry, and get the cover which suits you best. It’s better to pay up a small amount on extra cover each month than to find yourself in a dangerous situation all alone one day.

For more information Contact Privilege at:

Jennifer Culley Head of Press Office jennifer.culley@rbs.co.uk RBS Insurance 0845 246 0515

Disclaimer: Please note that Privilege does not control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness, or accuracy of the article above.