Why do I always feel so stressed on the way to my mothers? Why don’t I leave on time or even give myself an extra 15 minutes to get there is case of any eventualities? But no, I leave it until the last moment, actually way past the last moment, then spend the next 30 minutes stressed out watching the minutes tick by as I am yet again stuck behind a slow driver.

I’ve run out of excuses and even my kids no longer back me up as they are so sick of me being in a hellish mood every time we venture out in the car. Nothing is ever mentioned, but I know it affects my mother, who may take a couple of hours to properly thaw through, by which point, it’s time to leave again!

However, feeling stressed behind the wheel is something that we should avoid at all cost. Research by Admiral, Car Insurance Specialists, reveals that while many people use driving to clear their heads, this is the worse thing they could do. The research showed that over third of people confessed to driving more erratically when they are stressed and that almost half are more likely to lose their concentration. It also revealed that stress can cause feelings of road rage making some people drive more aggressively, some faster than normal and some slower, which of course can be just as dangerous.

If feeling stressed, Health Psychologist David Moxon suggests some simple steps to help you deal with your emotions and behaviour as managing stress is all about being in control.

  • Clench your muscles, hold them for 10 seconds then release. Use with your hands, feet and shoulders.
  • Try to slow down your general pace of walking and talking.
  • Make time to go for frequent walks – even if it’s only for a few minutes in the open air.
  • Make sure you drink plenty of water – especially on a long journey.
  • Share your worries with someone close and tell them why you are feeling stressed.
  • Regularly relax in a long hot bath.
  • Work in your garden, listen to music, and watch comedies you enjoy – laughter is one of the most effective stress-busting techniques.

Women and Wheels suggest ways to keep stress at bay when driving:

  • Give yourself plenty of time to get to where you are going
  • Plan your route in advance
  • Keep a map in the car in case of road works forcing you to take a detour
  • Make use of satnavs and familiarise yourself with it before setting off
  • Make sure kids have toys to hand, hankies, snacks etc
  • Plan your stops on your journeys so that you and kids know what to expect
  • Travel at a quieter time of day
  • Be courteous to others on the road and be forgiving of other people’s mistakes or rudeness – there’s nothing you can do about it so there is little point in getting worked up
  • Listen to some soothing music or a relaxing radio station

Admiral has created a De-stress Podcast which provides tips and techniques to help deal with stress. Visit www.admiral.com/stress