Drivers of safe vehicles have less accidents: you could be one of them!

So car accidents happen all the time do they? That may be what people say, but that doesn't mean it has to happen to you. If you are fed up with accidents (which happen every two minutes in the UK), cars that break down, that collapse in a crash or that are not robust or resilient enough to cope with heavy driving, then maybe it's time to change your outlook.

Don't get caught out. You may like the look of a dated sky-blue Jaguar, but that doesn't mean the safety security features and airbag are as likely to protect you and your children as a Japanese car in the event of a car accident, or prevent personal injuries.

The UK Reliability Index
In terms of road traffic safety, some cars that are not viewed as being quite as 'stylish' or 'impressive' in terms of road handling, such as Skodas, are actually safer cars.

The 'reliability index' has specific information about the latest models and how safe they are at www.reliabilityindex.co.uk.

Based on data gathered from millions of pounds worth of claims handled every year, the Index offers the most comprehensive overview of cars on the road today. Simply search for any car and get statistics about how reliable it really is (compared to what the TV ads and manufacturers say).

32 car manufacturers, broken down into 13 major areas, are covered. Evaluation criteria includes average mileage, average age, time off the road, maximum labour cost, average repair cost, air conditioning, axle and suspension information, braking system, cooling and heating system, electrical, engine, fuel system and transmission.

The top 100 cars and latest trends are also listed and laid out in detail.

The Parkers Guide
The Parkers Guide (www.parkers.co.uk) ensures you pay the right price for the car you want to buy thanks to accurate valuations, in-depth car reviews and a large range of cars from trusted dealers. Select a manufacturer and model and check what you should be paying.

You can also find out more about the vagaries of the market, what particular models are selling like hotcakes and where you can get a bargain 2006-registered Punto for £5500 - less than the price of a Panda.

Hire, part-buy or buy?
There are several ways to finance the purchase of a more secure, stronger car without breaking the bank.

You can hire a car for sporadic use, part-buy a car, or buy a car on finance. Large car supermarkets like www.availablecar.com offer excellent finance deals and part-buy schemes (when you do not pay the full price for the vehicle), and exchange and re-buy all models sold to available car customers.

Beware the dirty tricks of the trade, however. Check the APR of the dealership finance deal carefully before you sign any paperwork, as insurance on monthly payments is one way that they make their money. If you don't want to feel as if you're having a monthly financial beating, making a significant down payment (it may be less if you are paying by cash) is worth considering.

Don't forget the sad truth that cars depreciate in value (unlike houses which are appreciating in value in most parts of the UK at the moment), and although a nice car may give you road status, it will not make you more money than the price you bought it for unless it is a particularly valuable model or sports car.

Statistics show that every car suffers some degree of mechanical failure during years four and five of ownership - just when the manufacturer's UK warranty generally expires. Making sure you sell and replace your car every two years for a newer model is one way to get around this dark secret about the motor industry. Buying a car that people will therefore want to buy after you therefore makes sense.