British drivers’ biggest stress triggers on the road

Driving is a part of everyday life for many Britons, and most adults hold a driving licence – 50 million, according to the Department for Transport. Cars are the most popular way of getting around, taking us everywhere from the office to weekend trips away. Despite this, new research from Saga has revealed that 94% of Brits feel stress towards driving.

As part of a nationally representative survey of 1001 British drivers, we gave respondents a variety of scenarios – such as driving in bad weather and driving in an unfamiliar place – and asked whether any caused feelings of stress. All respondents, apart from 6%, said that at least one scenario made them stressed.

Below, we reveal which situations Brits say cause the most and least stress, and Dr Daniel Glazer, clinical psychologist, and Susan Leigh, counsellor and hypnotherapist, lift the lid on the results.

We’ve also investigated which feelings and symptoms can indicate driving anxiety and driving instructor Claire Tollit and Saga’s car expert Ali Ingram-Seal share tips to help manage stressful moments on the road.

1. Driving in bad weather like fog; snow; heavy rain

Driving in bad weather topped the list as the most stressful experience on the road according to Brits.

Almost half of respondents (49%) said that driving in bad weather induced a feeling of stress, which comes as no surprise to Dr Daniel, an NHS and private practice therapist.

“It's a situation where we feel our control is diminished, and loss of control is often at the heart of anxiety. What's interesting is that the fear of accidents ranks relatively lowly (the third least stressful). This suggests that it's not necessarily the outcome people fear, but the feeling of vulnerability in the moment.”

Drivers aged 55-64 were most affected compared to all age groups, as 56% considered this event to be stressful. Women were more concerned than men – 60% and 39%, respectively, said that driving in bad weather caused stress.

2. Getting lost/driving without satnav

Getting lost or driving without a satellite navigation system ranked second highest.

The results for this experience were relatively even across all age groups. Dr Daniel suggests that “our increasing reliance on technology is potentially a factor here.”

He explains that the younger generation “grew up with navigation apps and driver-assist features as constants. Operating a vehicle without those "crutches" may induce its own distinct unease.”

Women were more stressed by this scenario, as over half (52%) were affected compared to around a third (36%) of men.

Claire’s experience with students and seasoned drivers alike echoes the results:

“Most people suffer from at least some form of stress when thinking about driving, particularly driving in new areas. Driving tests don’t cover that much of actual day-to-day driving, and many new drivers won’t have experienced these situations – particularly drivers who have never had any professional lessons.”

3. Experiencing a car breakdown/mechanical issues.

A car breakdown or mechanical failure ranked as the third most stressful experience.

Drivers over 65 were most worried about a breakdown, as half (50%) selected this as a stressful thought.

Flat batteries are a leading cause of breakdowns. According to Ali, they are “particularly common in vehicles that typically only make short journeys. Before a long trip, take your car out for a 30-minute journey to fully recharge the battery.”

Most standard car insurance policies don’t include breakdown cover, so additional cover may help put your mind at ease. Available from as little as £29.99 a year, Saga’s 24-hour-a-day Breakdown Assistance is an optional add-on that could help ease worries about mechanical issues.

The 5 least stressful encounters when driving

Dr Daniel echoes that deep breathing exercises and mindfulness practices can help ease driving stress, “but it's also about changing our relationship with driving and seeing it as a skill we're constantly improving rather than a test we might fail.”

Claire also suggests that lessons aren’t just for young drivers. She says, “I think there’s a common misconception that driving instructors are only for new starters. It’s perfectly normal (and wise, I think) for more seasoned drivers to revisit lessons for a quick refresh of the basics.”

Regaining driver confidence

With Saga’s optional add-on motor legal protection (or included with Saga Plus), you have the option, following an event, of four free hours of driver confidence coaching per policy year with your choice of instructor. This could be helpful following a car accident, if a partner who was the primary driver passes away, or if you've been unable to drive due to medical reasons, for example.

Call us on 0800 302 9811 within 90 days of the event (open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday).

Nearly a third of British drivers consider their stress to be driving anxiety

We also asked Brits whether they considered any of the scenarios they selected to be more than stressful, and an anxiety. Just under a third (29%) said yes, and a further 29% said maybe. Drivers aged 21-24 had the highest ‘yes’ response, at 53%, and drivers aged 55-64 had the lowest ‘yes’ response, at 19%.

When stress may be driving anxiety

Susan explains the differences between stress and anxiety, as well as the possible symptoms.

“A stressful driving experience can entail being vigilant, concerned about the drive, maybe planning the route, and including stops along the way, depending on the length of the journey. Fearful anxiety, on the other hand, may well mean sleepless nights, bad dreams, being sick, sweating, poor concentration, irritability, and perhaps trying to find ways to avoid the journey and having to drive.”

Reflecting on the results, Dr Daniel says modern life could be amplifying driving anxiety: “We're living in an age of heightened awareness of risk, constantly bombarded with information about potential dangers. It's no wonder this seeps into our driving experiences. Part of it is also likely our increasingly congested roads and the stress of modern life impacting our journeys on the road.

But there's also a psychological component. Driving requires a complex set of skills and constant decision-making. For many, it's a perfect storm for anxiety to take hold. As a therapist, I've seen how common driving-related anxieties can be.”

Why younger drivers may suffer from driving anxiety

Young people may be most affected because of their hyperawareness of risk and lack of experience, according to Dr Daniel. “Individual experiences will vary, but young people’s relatively limited driving experience can be a major contributor. Education courses and public safety campaigns frequently target this demographic, so they're hyper-exposed to alarming statistics and worst-case scenarios from an early point. It can plant seeds of anxiousness that persist into their independent driving years.”

When to seek help

Dr Daniel explains that “the line between stress and anxiety can be blurry, but generally, anxiety becomes problematic when it starts interfering with daily life. If someone is avoiding necessary trips or experiencing physical symptoms like panic attacks behind the wheel, it's time to seek help.”

Susan echoes that “when the fear becomes life-limiting and starts to impinge on relationships and your quality of life, that's the time to seek professional help.”

To help address anxiety, Dr Daniel suggests cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or exposure therapy, and he even comments that “virtual reality treatments are showing promising results”. Susan notes that hypnotherapy and counselling can be useful in dealing with the underlying causes and can offer ways to improve confidence and self-belief. She adds that “medical assistance can be useful in providing medication to deal with the immediate problem.”

Mental health support is available from your GP and charities like Mind and Mental Health UK.

Methodology:

Saga surveyed a nationally representative pool of 1001 British drivers in August 2024 about what encounters made them feel stressed about driving.

The views of the experts cited do not reflect the views of Saga.

Sources:

50 million driving licences in Great Britain and cars are the most popular form of personal and commuter travel.