Safety Tips for Women Drivers from Quinn Direct Insurance

    LONDON, ENGLAND, October 25, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Driving safely on the road is one thing, but being safe if something goes wrong is another. This is especially important if you are a woman travelling alone. By taking steps to make sure you and your car are prepared for a journey, you will cut down the chances of something going wrong. Then, if you should breakdown or have an accident, you will be in a better position to keep yourself safe until help arrives.

With this in mind, we at Quinn Direct - a car insurance provider offering women drivers and other motorists' free breakdown cover (with car insurance), have put together some safety tips for women drivers. So take a look at the guide below:

Be prepared
To decrease the chances of something going wrong with your car and leaving you stranded at the roadside having to call a car breakdown service, make sure your car is in good order. Do the following or get someone to do it for you:

- Top up your washer bottle: This should contain the right amount of water and washer fluid to help keep your windscreen clean and clear.
- Check your oil and water: Check that your water and oil levels are adequate in order to stop overheating and engine damage.
- Check your lights: Ensure that your lights, plus hazard and brake lights all work properly. If not, replace any broken bulbs.
- Get your car serviced regularly: A regularly serviced car is less likely to breakdown than one that isn't. Also ensure that it is road legal and has passed its MOT.
- Check tyre pressures: Correctly pressured tyres will decrease tyre wear and increase fuel economy.

Before you take a journey
Along with car insurance, MOT and other requirements; you should also have a little emergency kit that you can put in the car before you drive anywhere which will help in the event of a breakdown.

- Mobile phone: A fully charged mobile phone will let you contact the emergency services without having to find a phone box. However if you are on a motorway, using a roadside phone will allow the breakdown services to identify you and your position more quickly.
- Torch: Carry a torch in your glove box; it's handy for either examining the car in the dark or if you have to walk to get help in the dark (don't do this unless absolutely necessary).
- Blanket: In case of breaking down in cold weather.
- First Aid: A small kit can be bought from your chemists and can be used to treat minor injuries.
- Food and water: A couple of energy bars and a bottle of water should be enough you keep you going until help arrives.

In event of a car accident or breakdown
If you should get into difficulty, don't panic. Phone your car breakdown service or emergency services and wait for them to arrive. Make sure that you tell the operator that you are a female driver travelling alone, which may give you priority. While waiting, do the following:

- Keep all your car doors locked, and do not open the doors until help arrives (central locking is very useful in this case).
- Sit in the passenger seat. This will give the impression to would-be attackers that you are not alone and a husband/boyfriend is not far away.
- If it is not safe to stay in your car (it may be stuck on a motorway hard shoulder), then keep a safe distance from it but have the door unlocked in order to get back in quickly.
- When help does arrive, ensure that you get proof of their identity before unlocking the door.

If you do not have car breakdown cover, Quinn Direct is currently offering free car breakdown service with 24 hour roadside assistance for its car insurance customers. For further details, please visit www.quinn-direct.co.uk.

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