My inflatable hero

If reclaiming the night wasn't a big enough task for women to take on, female drivers are now being encouraged to reclaim that dog-eat-dog battleground that is our raging roads. But put the brakes on, ladies. Before undertaking any such campaign, it's recommended that you employ the services of a man - and more specifically, an instantly inflatable man named Buddy.



Specialist women's insurer Sheilas' Wheels has news today for solo female motorists, with the unveiling of its "Buddy on Demand" prototype. Buddy is a guy who's ready to protect you whenever you need him. He is content to live in the glovebox and if you feel threatened, he leaps into action, transforming himself into a heroic passenger at the touch of a button, and allowing you to breathe a sigh of relief.

As a bonus, he refrains from backseat driving at all times. An ideal driving companion, it would seem but does a blow-up doll really do much for personal security? Perhaps not, although the insurer says the concept is all about making female drivers feel more confident.

A Sheilas' Wheels press release sums up Buddy's function: "It is designed to help women deter road-rage attacks, carjacking and intimidating behaviour by other motorists - especially at night - by giving the appearance of two silhouettes in the front of the car, instead of a single, female figure behind the wheel".