Stressed-out drivers seem to be a fundamental part of modern motoring. Whether the anxiety shows itself through rude gestures, aggressive driving or ignoring basic good manners and the rules of the road it’s there, eating away at many behind the wheel.
Earlier this year, the UK government’s Health and Safety Executive claimed that more than 33.7 million working days a year were lost in the UK in 2024 through mental health and stress, costing employers £51 billion. So, to help drivers stay chilled behind the wheel, here are some stress-busting tips that can be put to good use today.
Stressed drivers: Are you sitting comfortably?
Your in-car posture can have a dramatic effect on how you feel in the car, which can, in turn, affect how you react to various situations. A 2024 survey by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) found that four out of five people suffer from back pain. For many of those people, the pain is aggravated by sitting down, which you can’t help doing in a car. And if you’re in physical pain, you won’t feel at your best towards your fellow man.
Stressed drivers: Smoothly does it
The more aggressively you drive, the more aggressive you will feel. This is because constant sharp acceleration and braking forces you to constantly adjust your body. This can cause strain in your back, particularly around the lower lumbar area, which promotes feelings of stress.
Stressed drivers: Exercise it away
Stress is the body preparing to take something on (fight) or run away from it (flight). If you can’t do either, like when you’re behind the wheel of a car, it can make you become angry, irrational and erratic. Neil Shah, director of The Stress Management Society and author of The 10-Step Stress Solution, says: “Take some deep breaths. The more oxygen you can get into the brain, the calmer you’ll become. If you’re in a traffic jam and it’s safe to do so, you could also try stretching and releasing muscles in your arms and legs. And concentrate your mind on what you’re going to have for dinner, or what you’ll do at work when you get there, rather than what’s winding you up.”
Stressed drivers: Forgive and forget
Chances are the driver who has irritated you didn’t do it on purpose. So don’t take it personally and don’t let it get to you. Bill Fox who specialises in conflict management training says: “You probably know nothing about the person who has just cut you up, so it’s safest to just let it go.”
Stressed drivers: How would you react out of the car?
Before you give another driver an abusive hand gesture, ask yourself what would happen if neither of you were in a car. “If you’d just bumped into them in the Post Office, you’d probably simply both apologise to each other,” says Bill Fox.
Stressed drivers: It’s all in the planning
Being on the road is stressful enough without making it harder for yourself. If you leave late, thinking you can make up time in the journey, you’re setting yourself up to get stressed. Leave in plenty of time and if there’s a small delay on the way, it won’t be a big deal. Equally, plan your route or take a sat nav. There are few things more stressful things than getting lost, particularly if you’re late as well.