Don't be scared of the road, buy a Toyota Corolla

We've all been there, one minute you're cruising along the motorway and the next thing the car makes a loud bang and you're stuck on the hard shoulder. It can be every motorist's worst nightmare, so how can it be avoided?

According to a recent survey by Which Car? one way to avoid having to worry about breaking down on your way home is to invest in a Toyota Corolla. Yep, out of all the cars in the world, the Corolla has been regarded as one of the most reliable around.

This is definitely a good thing if you don't want to be left stranded by the side of the road when it's raining and you haven't got breakdown cover! Thank goodness then for our trusty parents and friends who are always there to tow us back home with the help of their trusty estate cars.

Another survey looking into the driving habits of motorists found that many people had several concerns about driving in the UK, despite having cheap car insurance for their safe motoring skills. Unfortunately for women, it seemed that female driver insurance customers had the biggest fears which included driving on motorways and in bad weather conditions.

One of the other worries that motorists had in the study included tailgating. Whether driving a Toyota, BMW or Ford, it seems that 50% of men and 40% of ladies don't like the idea of somebody travelling too close to their rear bumper, especially if it is in an urban centre with foggy weather.

A spokesperson for RAC commented on the issue of confidence and said: "It's easy to believe that every other road user is a confident, capable driver, but it's simply not the case. In fact, one in every three drivers we surveyed admitted that they felt anxious and stressed about driving on motorways. Driving anxiety is entirely treatable and there is lots of help available."

The RAC believes that motorists can combat their fears by following their RELAX plan before each journey:

R - Route plan and make sure you know where you're going before you head off.
E - Equipment check and prepare yourself for the worst scenario.
L - Leave yourself with lots of time.
A - Advance training and improve your driving skills.
X - Xhale! Learn some useful breathing exercises to calm you down.

If you think you could do with a confidence booster behind the wheel then there are various ways that you can brush up on your motoring. Even though you may have passed your test years ago, you can always take an advanced driving test through such organisations as the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). You can find out more information by visiting www.iam.org.uk.

One BSM driving instructor had a lot to say when asked about improving drivers' confidence and motoring skills by adding: "Nervous drivers may be qualified to be on the road but lack the confidence. Our network of IAM volunteers around the UK are used to dealing with drivers who may have not been at the wheel for many years, perhaps their partner always drove.

"The result is often that nervous drivers gain the experience they need, in a constructive and supportive environment."

Well there you have, if you've been feeling a bit nervous about getting in your vehicle, why not enhance your motoring confidence by getting out there on the roads? Alternatively, you could always invest in a Toyota Corolla.