Managing your mental health can keep you safer on the road

We are all shaped by different beliefs, backgrounds and experiences. The one thing we all have in common, is our ability to feel emotions that set the tone of our lives. How you feel about yourself, your life and about others, directly impacts how you engage with and react to the world - and even more reason to take good care of your emotional and mental health.

Managing your emotions is especially important while you're driving. It's been proven that driving while you're emotionally charged, is as risky as driving when you're tired. We're taking a necessary look at how your mental health affects driving behaviour and how managing it can help you avoid dangerous outcomes.

What happens when extreme emotion takes the wheel?

Tunnel vision - This is when you experience defective sight that impacts your peripheral vision and depth perception. As a driver, it is important to be well of aware of your surroundings.

Delayed observation and reactions - Defensive driving requires you to make quick decisions that are both safe and considerate of other road users. If you are absent minded, your precision and driving skills that need swift reaction are compromised.

Inability to predict risky situations - The circumstances on the road can change quickly. If you are distracted and feel detached from your surroundings, you may not identify hazards, or you can make riskier decisions such as speeding.

The likelihood of road rage - Being highly emotional may cause you to overreact or display aggressive behaviour that could lead to reckless driving.

While dealing with intense emotions isn't always easy, you can still gain some control over the situation. There are many ways to contain emotions, and since we're all wired differently, you'll need to find what works for you.

Keeping your emotions at bay when you drive

Add a soundtrack to your drive
Be it calming music, a lighthearted podcast or the radio, whatever your preference may be, add it to your trip to help you shift your focus from your stressful thoughts.

Just b-r-e-a-t-h-e
High anxiety can cause shortness of breath, which leads to more anxiety. Instead of taking a deep breath, try a thorough exhale, then let your lungs inhale air gently. Breathing from your diaphragm (the muscle beneath your lungs) is also a good way to ease tension.

Dial up your senses
Take along an ice-cold beverage and some sour or spicy treats for the ride. The cold liquid and sharp sensation of taste can help you regain your senses to focus.

Be courteous
Erratic lane changing, high-speed overtaking and intimidating driving behaviour is not worth the few seconds it may save you. In fact, you could get a lot more out of driving safely if you're a member of Vitality Drive - Discovery Insure's unique driver behaviour programme that rewards you for driving well.

Don't sweat the small stuff
Getting hyped up about others' inconsiderate driving behaviour only raises your own blood pressure, which magnifies your emotions. Remember, nothing is more valuable than your safety on the road.

Have a reliable insurance partner on board
To further ease the subconscious stress we all carry on getting into our vehicles, it helps to have a reliable insurance partner like Discovery Insure on call. If your trip doesn't go according to plan, there's immense l relief in knowing that you're in safe hands.

From drivers, to pedestrians and road-side workers, everyone on the road may be facing emotional challenges. To prevent dangerous situations when you drive, it's important to manage your feelings and to be as calm as possible - that way you will get from point A to point B safely.

Read more about Discovery Insure's comprehensive car insurance and warranty cover plans.