Large handbags make it difficult for women to find their car keys, which can put their safety at risk.
A study found that a third of women drivers panic or feel anxious when unable to find their car keys quickly, especially when travelling alone or late at night.
Three quarters of the 1,080 women polled feel most vulnerable when walking to their cars alone at night, with 28% of respondents often fearing they are being followed while doing so.
London women feel the most unsafe while searching for keys in their bags, while women motorists in Wales ranked the highest for handbag theft.
Overall, 12% women reported that their handbags or contents had been stolen while they were distracted, the study by insurance company Sheilas' Wheels showed.
Jenny Fawson, director of personal safety at the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, a safety organisation, said: "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."
She added that chatting on mobiles, listening to music, or rummaging for keys made women "less likely to see danger approaching and therefore less likely to be able to avoid it".
