Oversized handbags leave female motorists at risk

Trendy supersized handbags are fast becoming a threat to the safety and peace of mind of millions of female motorists, according to new research.

The findings reveal that women are becoming increasingly distracted and exposed to crime, spending on average 416 hours in their lifetime (or two and a half weeks) rifling through their handbags in search of ‘buried' car keys. A third (33 per cent) of female motorists polled also claim to feel panicked and anxious about not being able to locate their keys quickly enough when close to their cars - particularly when returning to them alone or at night.

With these concerns in mind,Sheilas' Wheels car insurance has produced a geniune safety solution that doesn't compromise on style - a car key that masquerades as a wearable cocktail ring, meaning that the driver's key is always safe and reassuringly to hand.

The Sheilas' Wheels KeyRing allows the wearer to lock and unlock a car door simply by pressing the ring's gemstone. Once safely inside their cars, women can then lock the doors and search for their standard car keys, allowing them to start the engine and drive away without the risk of feeling anxious or stressed at the wheel - potentially another risk to driving safety.

The research, conducted by Sheilas' Wheels, estimates that over 2.2 million female motorists (12 per cent) have either had their bag or its contents stolen when distracted, and over a third (37 per cent) of those women polled often feel vulnerable to crime when searching through their handbags for car keys.

The KeyRing comes as 28 per cent of female motorists claim to have sensed being followed when walking to their car alone. A further two-fifths (41 per cent) admitted that this feeling was heightened if they could not immediately find their car keys in their bulky bags - leaving themselves feeling vulnerable for longer than necessary. Additionally, three-quarters (75 per cent) of female drivers admit to feeling at their most vulnerable walking to their cars alone at night.

However, the risks are not only at night as national crime statistics reveal that women are actually most vulnerable on a weekday during daylight hours with 577,000 (from the person) thefts - including handbag crimes - having been reported over the past year.

Jenny Fawson, Director of Personal Safety at the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, commented: "Two of the most important things a woman can do to improve her safety is to stay aware of her surroundings and to avoid potentially dangerous situations. If you are distracted from your surroundings because you are chatting on your mobile, listening to an mp3 player or rummaging about in your bag for keys, you will be less likely to see danger approaching and therefore less likely to be able to avoid it.

"It's also worth remembering that if you are returning to your parked car late at night and the car park or the street is deserted, the risk to your safety can be greater, so making sure you act quickly and confidently to get into your car safely is vital."

Top safety tips for female motorists:

Try to always keep keys in the same safe place in your handbag such as a side pocket or easily accessible key wallet

Park in well lit spaces - whether on the street or in a car park

Find your keys whilst in a safe place and have them to hand before approaching your car

In car parks, try to park as close to the entrance or exit as possible to avoid having to walk alone for too long - and don't choose a space beside pillars, stairwells or anywhere a person could potentially hide

Sheilas' Wheels has already approached car manufacturers with the innovation and design concept - with a view to aiding nationwide production and distribution of the KeyRing.

Jacky Brown, at Sheilas' Wheels car insurance, commented: "We are always looking to address women's motoring safety concerns and with the Sheilas' Wheels KeyRing we do just that. Not only will women be able to open their cars with minimal fuss, but they will be able to quickly get in to the safety of their vehicle before having to root around in their handbag for their car keys.

"We hope that by developing this concept and gauging public opinion, car manufacturers will get in touch with a view to producing the Sheilas' Wheels KeyRing themselves."