Many people feel nervous or anxious about driving, and this can become a distraction
that prevents them concentrating fully. It can even lead to a driver avoiding certain
situations, or even driving altogether. This video will take a look at why a driver might
feel nervous, suggest general strategies that can reduce stress, and finally offer advice
that may help a driver cope in challenging situations.
There are many reasons that a driver could feel nervous about driving, and lose their
confidence. These could include; Feeling inexperienced after recently passing
the driving test Putting pressure on themselves to be a perfect
driver A recent accident
Stress from other situations in their life Criticism from other people
A long break from driving, or The effects of ageing or other physical conditions.
If you recognise any of these reasons then there may be a coping strategy to help you
regain your confidence and start enjoying driving again.
Feeling nervous or anxious about driving will have a negative effect on your driving ability,
and may make you more likely to make mistakes. Worrying about what might happen is a distraction,
and this can reduce your focus on actually driving the car. When we get anxious our bodies
start to perspire more, and our breathing rates and muscle tension increase. In addition
our brain will struggle to process information about hazards and this will lead to mistakes
or slower reactions. Then, if the driver makes a driving error it can increase their levels
of anxiety even further - making it even more difficult to concentrate on their driving.
This vicious circle could eventually lead to stopping driving altogether, so we recommend
taking the time to analyse the situation. We should understand that challenges are a
normal part of everyday life, and it is how we manage each challenge that matters. Use
challenges as an opportunity for growth and development, and devise a strategy to help
handle situations that have caused problems in the past.
The following strategies could help you control your stress levels whilst driving:
Driving on roads that we are familiar with is much easier - as we can plan ahead further, making it far less likely to
get stuck in the wrong lane or surprised by a tight bend. When you need to drive on new roads, use a
Sat-Nav as it makes the job of navigation far easier and will even replan a route automatically
if a wrong turn is taken.
Allowing plenty of time for a journey makes everything easier. There will be no need to
rush, and even if there is a delay of some kind it won’t really matter as you can take
a detour or even stop for a break.
Driving in heavy traffic is stressful for the driver, and the constant stopping and
starting wastes fuel. Driving is much more enjoyable when the roads are clear, so try
to plan your journeys for when the roads are quiet.
Always drive at a safe speed. Driving too fast forces the driver to think faster as
they will approach hazards more quickly, which will make it easier to make a mistake. However
don’t drive unnecessarily slowly as it could annoy following traffic and encourage them
to overtake, which may not always be safe.
Switch your phone off and keep it out if sight, as they are a dangerous distraction when driving.
This will ensure there is no temptation to look at it when you hear the sound of a message
or call.
Driving when distracted by any worries or concerns can affect your concentration, so
if you need to find a safe place to stop. Take a moment to compose your thoughts and
only continue driving when you feel safe to do so.
It is important to identify what particular situations make you most anxious, so an effective
coping strategy can be developed. Here we will look at 5 common scenarios that could
challenge a driver and then suggest ways to cope. We hope they will help you make the
necessary changes from your normal approach and reduce your stress level.
It can be difficult to emerge from a busy junction, and sometimes a driver can worry
that they are holding up the vehicles behind them. The challenge is to stay calm, and make
safe decisions even when feeling under pressure. Your strategy could include;
Remember that it isn’t your fault that the junction is busy, it might take a little while
to find a gap Don’t be distracted by the vehicles behind
- just focus on the approaching traffic Only you can decide when it is safe to go,
don’t get intimidated into taking risks If your view is obstructed, edge forward to
improve it - someone may even let you out There will always eventually be a safe gap
in the traffic, just relax and be patient
Driving at night can feel completely different to daytime - it is more difficult to spot
hazards, oncoming headlamps can dazzle, and its easier to get lost. The challenge is to
remain as safe as possible and complete the journey without feeling anxious. Strategy
ideas include; Check that your car’s lights are all clean
and working properly Use the road markings and cat’s eyes to
help see the road ahead Drive at a speed that gives you plenty of
time to spot hazards Use the lights of vehicles ahead to warn of
approaching bends If you’re dazzled, slow down until your
vision returns to normal
Driving in poor weather, such as heavy rain or snow can be difficult. You have less visibility,
your car has less grip to the road, and it’s hard to judge how fast to drive. The challenge
is to correctly assess the risks present, and drive at an appropriate speed for the
conditions. We would suggest; Use dipped headlamps so that other drivers
can see you Drive slower than normal, as this will give
you more time to react to any hazards Allow a much larger following distance to
the vehicle in front Corner at a lower speed, and steer very smoothly
Brake early and gently, to reduce the chance of skidding
Parking in a busy high street needs precise car control. In addition, its hard to judge
to size of the spaces, and there might be people waiting for you to finish parking so
it’s easy to rush and make a mistake. The challenge is to carry out a safe parking manoeuvre
with the minimum of stress and anxiety. Our top tips are;
Allow plenty of time to find a good parking space
Don’t worry about holding up others - focus on the manoeuvre
Look all around the car for danger when reversing Drive really slowly to give more control and
time to think Remember that everyone makes mistakes sometimes!
Driving on long journeys can be filled with unpredictability such as new roads to drive
on, the possibility of getting lost, and even the need to find rest or fuel stops. The challenge
is to plan as much as the journey as possible to keep unknown worries to a minimum.You will
need to consider; Plan the route beforehand and print the journey
details Give your car a quick checkover - making sure
the tyres and fluids are correct is a good idea
Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged, just in case its needed
Use a Sat-Nav on the journey - knowing how far away the next road is really helps
Check the traffic news for problems on the road ahead
If the situation that you feel most anxious about when driving hasn’t been covered here,
then you can follow the same process. Have a really good think about what causes your
stress, and work out your own strategies to cope with it. Having a ‘plan’ to follow
when you are being challenged really helps. If you feel that there is a problem that you
can’t sort out yourself, why not book a refresher lesson with a local driving instructor
- they will be happy to help you improve your skills.
so REMEMBER to: Use our general strategies to help with your
everyday driving Analyse your most challenging driving scenarios
Develop your own coping strategies to help manage the situation
When you’re under pressure, focus on making safe decisions
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