Feeling safe and secure in the car is important for any woman. Even if the risks are minimal, peace of mind is important.

Here are five tips to keep you and your car safe:

1) Lock your car immediately when you get out. Don’t dither unnecessarily or get distracted, allowing potential thieves an opportunity to swipe your phone or handbag. And even if you’re only going to be away from your car for a very short time, don’t take the risk of leaving it unlocked.

2) Keep valuable objects out of sight. Leaving a bag or purse on show provides a blatant opportunity for a would-be thief. Try not to leave valuable items in the car but if you have to then make sure they’re out of sight and ensure that no one can see into your boot. Remember that even carrier bags can also tempt thieves. There might be nothing valuable inside, but you don’t want thieves breaking into your car just to find out, so keep them out of sight.

3) Lock your doors when stopped in traffic. If you’re driving through busy, urban areas, play it safe by locking all car doors. In fact, if it makes you feel more secure, keep them locked at all times while in the car. Don’t worry about being over-cautious – your peace of mind and safety are what counts.

4) Don’t be tempted by road rage. It is frustrating if you’ve been cut up, or if someone is driving badly, but try to cool your road rage and not antagonise other drivers. Statistics have shown that 80.4% of us have been victims of road rage, and while most of the time it is just a beeping of horns and a waving of fists, it can sometimes turn into something more sinister. Try to keep out of it – and avoid any hassle that may arise.

5) Make sure you’re well covered. Adequate car insurance cover will give you peace of mind, so check that your policy provides all the cover you need. Also check you have sufficient breakdown cover for your needs.

This is a guest post by Sainsbury’s Finance