List of factors responsible for driving induced stress
Driving induced stress is a serious health concern, which leads to depression, anxiety and heart-related diseases. More and more people succumb to it daily due to increased time spent in the vehicle.
Driving has become the most stressful and least productive part of our daily routine, especially in the large Indian cities where traffic is immensely chaotic. On a busy day in Mumbai or Delhi, it can easily cost you a couple of hours of your time.
Overdrive magazine partnered with Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai and conducted a survey on 3 drivers with different age, gender, car and gearboxes to determine the effects of driving-related stress. Results showed that the heartbeat and blood pressure of the drivers went significantly above normal levels while driving in traffic, irrespective of age, gender, or car.
Several factors contribute to driving induced stress, of which, some of the prominent ones are:
- Claustrophobia: High density of vehicles on roads leaves you with no place to move forward or to the adjacent lane. On Indian flyovers and junctions, you can feel claustrophobic in your own vehicle. All you can see is vehicles inches away from your own in every direction, which builds up fear and rage.
- Anxiety: At busy junctions, the intervention of traffic policemen may increase your waiting time. Despite green signals you are stuck motionless amidst chaotic traffic with everyone honking their horns adding to anxiety and uneasiness.
- Psychological stress: Amidst dense traffic, you are constantly bothered about your vehicle being rear-ended, scratched, or dented. You aggressively honk or warn the other driver to stay away from your space. It can cause your pulse rate to rise and fall beyond normal levels repeatedly.
- Behaviour of other drivers: Other drivers breaking rules or driving awfully is an annoying sight. Drivers talking on cell phones, over-speeding and playing loud music are commonplace despite strict rules. Encounters with such drivers will infuriate you and make your blood pressure rise.
- Multitasking: Cars these days are laden with complicated navigation tools, Bluetooth, radios, music systems and auxiliaries. Such complexities within the car along with being engrossed in your Smartphone can make driving even more difficult in traffic.
- Denial of our own acts: As humans, we often overlook our own errors while driving and consider others as wrongdoers. Gradually we develop an attitude of self-righteousness, which raises anxiety every time we commit a mistake but consider it to be done by the other driver.
- Expressing rage on other drivers: At times, we are offended by the other drivers such that we start abusing and/or block their path. Sometimes we don't express our rage but keep it within us. In both the cases, the repercussions are far worse than a mere rise in pulse rate or blood pressure.
Stress behind the wheels in traffic can be annoying but can be managed through acceptance and self-discipline. You need to change your driving behaviour, control anxiety and respect other drivers on the road. A comprehensive motor insurance along with a third-party insurance and coverage against own damage will boost your confidence and eliminate half your worries while driving.