Top 50 most stressful things about driving

Loud passengers, driving in an unknown area and overtaking cyclists are among the biggest worries for drivers.

A study of 2,000 motorists revealed almost half said other drivers make them more concerned on the roads than they do themselves, while a third said driving is often the most stressful time of their day.

Navigating a double roundabout, being in the car with a partner and back seat drivers also feature among the Top 50 car stresses.

The research, commissioned by Rescue Remedy, revealed that 42% of drivers feel more worried when they have passengers in the car, compared to when they are alone.

More than two-fifths (44%) admitted that a demanding drive leaves them feeling overwhelmed for the rest of their day.

It also emerged more than half of those polled feel most comfortable with their partner as a passenger, while drivers feel least at ease with colleagues and siblings.

Despite this, 43% have fallen out with their other half because of a disagreement during a journey, with four in 10 admitted it was caused by discussing their driving skills.

Top 50 most stressful things about being in a car

1. Driving in the snow
2. Driving in an unknown area
3. Driving in the rain
4. Tailgaters
5. Hitting a pothole
6. Driving in the fog
7. Driving in the dark
8. Feeling like a large vehicle e.g. lorry/bus is too close to your car
9. Getting a warning light
10. Finding a parking space
11. Driving down narrow country lanes
12. Driving with the fuel light on
13. Having to reverse in a narrow road with cars either side
14. Parallel parking
15. Merging onto a motorway
16. Hesitating about taking over a cyclist
17. Blind corners
18. Being watched by other people when trying to park
19. Sitting in traffic
20. Missing a motorway exit and having to drive all the way back around
21. Having to change lanes in peak time
22. Fear of people going into the back of you
23. Mastering a three lane roundabout
24. Leaving the motorway at the wrong junction
25. Being the driver for passengers you’re not very familiar with e.g. colleagues
26. Sunday drivers
27. Back seat drivers
28. Doing a hill start
29. Driving while your passengers are being loud
30. Reversing out of a parking space
31. Worrying about getting a flat tyre
32. Hitting a car when parking
33. Navigating a double roundabout
34. Defrosting the car
35. Pulling out around a bus at a bus stop
36. Driving with a child in the car
37. Taking over another vehicle on a motorway
38. Rubber necking
39. Being in a car with your partner
40. Pulling out to join a roundabout
41. Box junctions
42. Driving somewhere with no signal
43. Hitting a parked car when driving past it
44. Remembering which side of the car the petrol cap is on
45. Changing gear while driving up a hill
46. Being in the wrong gear
47. Driving with a pet in the car
48. Not knowing how to fully work the lights
49. Mini roundabouts
50. Not knowing how to fully turn on the wipers

“The research shows how many elements there are to being in a car which can make it stress-inducing,” said a spokesperson for Rescue Remedy.

“It’s often hard to find balance and patience when there are a lot of external factors at play, and car journeys can often perpetuate worries about other life pressures.

“For many, this is what can make driving even more stressful, especially during a commute marred with delays, diversions and noise.”

“It’s important to find balance during stressful times, so it’s good to know many people see the car as a place to escape other worries and take time to think.”