New Driver Disorder Identified

Close to one in three (29 per cent) drivers found to suffer from newly recognised disorder ‘Traffic Stress Syndrome’

Traffic jams are not only bad for your mood – they can also damage your health, according to a new study from Direct Line.

‘The impact of traffic on drivers’ report – co-authored by health psychologist David Moxon – identifies a new condition named Traffic Stress Syndrome (TSS), a form of psychological anxiety that manifests itself in certain drivers while stuck in traffic.

According to the study, close to one in three drivers – nine million* UK motorists – currently suffer from TSS and show symptoms of the condition after being held up in traffic for as little as three to five minutes. 

One in five (20 per cent) experience increased heart-rates and headaches (19 per cent) and one in 10 endure sweaty palms (12 per cent).  In more severe cases drivers report nausea, dizziness (eight per cent) and stomach cramps (eight per cent) among the symptoms experienced. 

The impact of these symptoms along with the Direct Line research reveal a shocking picture of the full extent of TSS on driver behaviour.  Loss of concentration and hazardous driving brought about by the condition, have resulted in over two million** accidents for TSS drivers during or following traffic jams.

Other more common effects of the motoring condition include anxiety, irritation and heightened levels of anger.

The research by Direct Line additionally identifies the UK roads which experience heavy traffic and where motorists are most likely to suffer TSS.  The worst road for TSS is topped rather unsurprisingly by the M25 South East (31 per cent), followed by the M6 West Midlands (26 per cent) and the M25 Western Sector (25 per cent).

Direct Line spokeswoman, Emma Holyer, said:

“ The findings are very worrying – with more vehicles than ever on British roads, driving has inevitably become more stressful, and, as a result motorists are suffering.  We would encourage drivers to take deep and slow breaths and try to think about other things than the jams when sitting in heavy traffic to avoid getting Traffic Stress Syndrome.”

Psychologist David Moxon who was part of the research team, described the importance of the findings:

“ TSS is a form of stress that manifests itself in frustrated drivers – there is evidence to suggest that chronic TSS can be detrimental to both the physical and mental health of the motorist.”

Direct Line’s top tips for sufferers of TSS compiled by David Moxon:
1. Leave extra time for your journey to avoid getting stressed in the first place
2. Take deep and slow breaths
3. Listen to calming or relaxing music
4. Use cognitive distraction tasks such as thinking of loved ones
5. If you have a recycle button on your air con use it – this will stop exhaust fumes from the traffic jam coming back into your car
6. Place some aroma-oil on a tissue and keep it in the cabin to fragrance your car

-ends-

Notes to Editors:
The research was carried out on behalf of Direct Line motor insurance by YouGov. A nationally representative sample of 1,792 UK drivers were questioned online between 4th to 6th October 2005.

In addition to other demographic questions, subjects answered 10 questions to measure anxiety and aggression levels, each with four scaled responses.  The study followed standard procedure for psychological research. From this research a simple projective technique was developed.  This comprised four key words that were designed to elicit unconscious motives and show an ‘individuals proneness’ to TSS.  This methodology is used for the majority of studies of this nature, which need to be robust enough to pass the peer-review process required for the publication of scientific papers. 

*There are 33.8 million drivers in the UK (Census data, 2001) and according to the YouGov findings 99 per cent of motorists have been stuck in traffic and 29 per cent of those of have been stuck in traffic suffer from TSS.  0.99 x 33,809,493 = 33,471,398.  0.29 x 33,809,493 = 9,804,752.  

TOP TEN LIST OF ROADS MOTORISTS HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAFFIC-JAMS
(VOTED BY DRIVERS)
- M25 South East (31 per cent)
- M6 West Midlands (26 per cent)
- M25 Western Sector (25 per cent)
- M25 Northern Sector (25 per cent)
- M6 North Midlands (22 per cent)
- M5 Bristol area (21 per cent)
- M1 East Midlands (21 per cent)
- M1 Home Counties (19 per cent)
- M60 Manchester (16 per cent)
- M4 Thames Valley (16 per cent)

REGIONAL DATA BREAKDOWN

For further information: Emma Holyer, Direct Line Press Office
Tel: 0845 878 2182 Email: emma.holyer@directline.com

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