Stress is inevitable when you drive long distances interstate or even short distances within the city. Whether it’s some teenagers piled into a convertible, blasting music, and insulting you for no reason, or it’s the traffic jam that never seems to end, there’s always something to get you all riled up.
Unfortunately, multiple studies have connected stress behind the wheel to an increased rate of accidents on the highway. So, you want to do everything you can to stay calm behind the wheels or ease the tension while you are on the road. Some of the following tips should help you do just that:
Plan Ahead
Sometimes, things happen. There’s a traffic build up, there’s some construction going on, the roads are blocked, there could be wreckage on the highway and so on. This is why you need to plan your trips ahead of time. You should also make sure to set out as early as possible.
Sometimes, simply being early will help you avoid those tough spots. We do not mean planning them for days on end. What we mean is that you should have backup routes and then some backup routes for your backup routes if there are any.
Most professional drivers typically get stressed out when they find that they are unable to meet their delivery schedules as a result. Don’t be. Instead call ahead and tell them what’s going on and why there’ll be a possible delay.
Avoid Making Up for Lost Time
If you happen to oversleep or have a late start, try to travel at the usual speed. You see, some drivers can often speed or drive carelessly to get to their destination when they do not get on the road on time. This often makes them a liability to other road users.
Trying to make up for lost time will most likely result in decreased attention span, more careless driving, and possible accidents. Instead, drive at reasonable speeds. It is always better to get to your location in one piece and with the goods than to lose those cargo or your life in an accident caused by your carelessness.
Get Adequate Rest
For every driver, sleep is the ultimate rejuvenator and stress buster. So, get enough rest between each trip. It is not uncommon to find drivers making a return trip with nary a wink after being on the road for 18 hours.
Even if you have a jug of coffee, there’s only so much coffee can do for you. If anything, coffee will probably make you irritable and cause even more exhaustion.
Not just that, sleep deprivation will result in slower reaction time and possible sleeping behind the wheel, both of which aren’t good for a driver. So, get decent rest before embarking on the next or return trip.
Listen to Soothing Audio
It is often said that no news is good news. All that negativity can unconsciously affect you. So, turn off the news and listen to some great music or inspirational audio books. The news is not going anywhere; you can always listen to it at home.
Apart from all these, take care while on the road and watch out for belligerent road users. Avoid road rage by all means as it compromises your judgment and be considerate of fellow drivers. Be safe and have a safe trip.
The writer, Oscar King, is a blogger who specializes in trucking industry topics, including trucker health topics. He discusses stress reduction knowing how stress can lead to conditions that may cost a trucker their career. For those in need of a physical to maintain that certification, he recommends finding a DOT certified physician through http://www.driverphysicals.com/. You can learn more about Oscar on Google+.
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