Why driving and stress are a bad combination

Why driving and stress are a bad combination

The lorry, your loyal travelling companion who travels with you for thousands and thousands of miles, is sometimes the first one to be affected by your state of mind. Because this is directly related to the way you drive. Stress is the main cause of physical and emotional strain on industrial vehicle drivers. 

According to available data, 76% of drivers are stressed out while driving. A significantly high percentage that triggers situations of risk and that causes impulsiveness, impatience and even aggressiveness on the driver while driving. And the worst thing is that stress makes you have a lower risk perception.

Regardless of the reason of your stress, we help you reduce it following a series of tips:

  • Healthy lifestyle. Be aware of the importance of having a good diet, resting for the necessary hours and avoiding the road when necessary. It may sound like a cliché, but health comes first. 
  • Plan your routine in advance. It is essential to be flexible with your schedule and not to stick to a timeline in a very strict way, since unexpected circumstances may arise and cause stress. You have to accept that there might be setbacks and you need to adapt to them. 
  • Prioritise your aims. You need to identify the most important parts of your routine and set yourself objectives to carry them out. Embrace your daily plan and follow it in an organised way, this will help you reduce your stress level.
  • Music, your best ally. Enjoy your favourite songs while driving; these have a strong power over your state of mind.

Having a good state of mind and getting rid of stress in your routine will enable you, your family and your loyal travelling companion to feel more relaxed.

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Tips for driving in bad weather

Consejos de conducción ante el mal tiempo

We’re gradually getting to the colder months. This means there can be rain, snow and fog, something directly related to road condition and to the way we should drive. Even if you’re an experienced driver, you should always remember the following tips when driving your lorry in bad weather:

  • Caution on wet roads. The rain makes tyres lose grip on the road, so it would be convenient to increase the safety distance with the car in front of you and reduce your speed. If it starts raining very intensely, you are recommended to turn on your headlights or even your fog lights if it starts raining more heavily to increase visibility. Strengthening these recommendations in case of fog or snow is a key factor to be borne in mind when visibility is reduced.
  • Careful with the first raindrops. The first raindrops are also dangerous, since they mix up with materials and substances on the road surface creating an extremely slippery coating. Doubling your braking distance will contribute to your safety.
  • Anticipation. Remain vigilant at all times, especially with adverse weather conditions. Observe your surroundings very carefully looking into the forward road-scene as further away as possible to widen your field of vision, this will enable you to “see without looking”, increasing your peripheral vision. In addition, we recommend you check the weather forecast for the route you are going to follow.
  • Get your driving compartment ready. Driving comfortably has a bigger impact than one might think. The ideal temperature in your driving compartment should be 20º-22º, both in summer and in winter. A higher temperature could make you feel sleepy and tired, reducing your response capability.
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