The top 10 driving stresses facing drivers as our roads return to normal have been revealed by a leading road safety charity, with the return of traffic jams now causing the most agitation behind the wheel.
IAM RoadSmart conducted the stress related investigation* which discovered that more than 4-in-10 motorists (42%) are anxious about returning to sitting in long tail backs as more traffic returns to UK roads.
Meanwhile, simply getting used to busier roads again was causing stress among more than 3-in-10 motorists (33%), while other drivers returning to the road who might be out of practice was causing concern to more than a quarter of motorists (27%).
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Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy & Research, said: “As traffic starts getting heavier and heavier on UK roads it must not be forgotten that congestion and worries about other road users can cause stress to many motorists.
“With more traffic comes potentially more uncomfortable driving situations, such as being stuck in a traffic jam for a lengthy period or simply being surrounded by extra vehicles.”
Meanwhile, other current top driving stresses due to heavier traffic include being able to get to the end location on time and returning to long car journeys.
Neil added: “All drivers should give due care and consideration to their fellow motorists now that more-and-more of us are once again getting behind the wheel.
Full list of top driving stresses as traffic gets heavier – ranked most to least mentioned.
| As traffic gets heavier now that restrictions have eased, what are some of the top stresses when driving? | |
| The return of traffic jams | 42% |
| Getting used to busier roads again | 33% |
| People returning to the road who might be out of practice | 27% |
| Stressing to get to your location on time | 24% |
| Returning to long car journeys to destinations | 15% |
| With places being closed, there is nowhere to stop for a rest | 12% |
| Commuting | 11% |
| My general fatigue while driving | 11% |
| Returning to the road when you are out of practice | 11% |
| Not knowing if your car is still capable of longer journeys | 7% |
Drivers who feel they could benefit from increased driving confidence are able to book a range of courses through IAM RoadSmart. For more information, visit www.iamroadsmart.com.
About IAM RoadSmart
IAM RoadSmart has a mission to make better drivers and riders in order to improve road safety, inspire confidence and make driving and riding enjoyable. It does this through a range of courses for all road users, from online assessments through to the advanced driving and riding tests. IAM RoadSmart is the trading name of all businesses operated by the UK’s largest road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and was formed in April 2016 combining the IAM, IAM Drive & Survive, PDS and IAM Driver Retraining Academy.
The organisation has almost 85,000 members and campaigns on road safety on their behalf. At any one time there are over 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses, from members of the public to company drivers, while our Driver Retraining Academy has helped 2,500 drivers to shorten their bans through education and support programmes.
To find out more about IAM RoadSmart products and services visit: www.iamroadsmart.com
