Whether you’re dealing with heavy traffic, running late for work or an important appointment, or going through a difficult time in your life, stress can have a physical and psychological impact on your ability to safely drive your vehicle. When you drive stressed out, such strong emotions can surface and cause you to make illogical decisions on the road that put yourself, your passengers, and other drivers at risk of being involved or injured in a car accident. 

The following are five tips to reduce stress when you are behind the wheel: 

1. Give yourself extra time – When you are running late or otherwise pressed for time, you automatically become stressed. You should always give yourself plenty of time to commute or travel to a new destination, so you can remain calm when you experience traffic or unexpected delays. 

2. Check your GPS – You should always check Google Maps, Apple Maps, or whichever GPS app you regularly use to see how much time it will take to reach your destination. These online maps can tell you if will encounter traffic and even car accidents during your drive and provide you with the most convenient route. 

3. Take deep breaths – If you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed while you’re on the road, taking a few or several deep and long breaths is an effective relaxation technique to calm the body and mind. Breathe in through your nose to give your lungs plenty of air, then exhale through your mouth. 

4. Listen to music – Music can significantly affect our mood in several ways, which is why listening to your favorite tunes while you drive can calm the body, lower stress, and even elevate your mood. 

5. Turn off your phone – You need to stay focused on the main task of driving to avoid unexpected situations that can cause stress. To remain present on the road, avoid checking your cellphone, obey traffic signals and signs, stay within your speed limit, and watch the road ahead. 

Lastly, if you feel so overwhelmed with stress while driving, you shouldn’t be on the road. Safely pull over to the side of the road and give yourself a chance to clear your head and collect your thoughts.  

If you have been injured in a car accident caused by negligence in Hartford or Stratford, CT, call Zayas Law Firm at (860) 854-9156 or complete our online contact form today to request a free consultation. Serving clients throughout Connecticut since 1990!