Reducing Stress for Drivers

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines stress as 'the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them’. 

As a fleet manager, you want to ensure that you’re not responsible for putting undue pressure on your drivers and making them feel stressed, which could cause them to take unnecessary risks or make more mistakes behind the wheel, potentially resulting in an accident. 

In the long term, frequently being stressed at work may also negatively affect your drivers’ overall health and wellbeing as chronic stress has been linked to physical health problems such as cardiovascular disease and digestion issues, as well as mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. 
 

Identifying when drivers are stressed 

Charity the International Stress Management Association (ISMAUK), which founded National Stress Awareness Day in 1998, followed by International Stress Awareness Week in 2008, wants to raise awareness of stress and improve its management in the workplace and in our personal lives.

ISMAUK outlines a range of psychological, emotional, physical and behavioural signs of stress such as absenteeism, lacking focus and motivation, being irritable, panic attacks and physical tiredness. 

It points out that it is sometimes easier for other people to recognise when someone is stressed. 

However, it’s also possible for people to hide when they are feeling stressed and if your drivers work remotely or if they are out on the road all day it may be difficult to spot the signs of stress.

In this instance, telematics, which is fitted as standard to all Reflex Vehicle Hire vehicles, may prove a useful tool to identify a change in driver behaviour. For example, if a driver who never speeds or rarely brakes harshly suddenly starts driving in that manner they may be feeling pressured or have something on their mind which is distracting them when they’re driving.

The source of stress could be work-related such as time pressure from delivery schedules, a large volume of work, heavy traffic or difficult driving conditions or the driver could be experiencing personal issues such as going through a divorce or a family bereavement. 

Ways to reduce stress for drivers 

Route planning software can help create the most efficient journeys for van drivers but it’s important to seek feedback from them to make sure scheduling is realistic and that they are taking adequate breaks. 

Company car drivers, who are usually responsible for planning their own journeys, should also be advised to look at their journey in advance and allow plenty of time so they don’t feel pressured or tempted to speed.  

In-cab technology can support this by identifying when drivers are showing signs of fatigue and advising them to take a break. This is often optional or standard fit on company cars but usually an aftermarket solution on vans. Our Flexicampro technology includes fatigue and distraction monitoring.   

You could also consider training drivers to manage stress behind the wheel either by using a training provider or creating and delivering your own presentation on this topic. 

It is worth explaining to drivers the role that sleep, nutrition and exercise play in managing stress and covering breathing techniques which can help release tension. 

Communication is also essential before introducing changes which may cause workers to feel anxious. Regular feedback can help ensure the changes are effective and not a source of stress. 

When they have an issue drivers should feel that they can approach you, their line manager or someone else at work such as an HR professional or mental health first aider or that they are able to get external help, perhaps through an employee assistance helpline.

If it’s not possible to offer an employee assistance helpline or to train staff to be mental health first aiders independent support is still available for van drivers through the CALM Driver campaign, which is a collaboration between Driving for Better Business, National Highways and mental health organisation Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). 

The CALM Driver campaign was launched in 2020 after data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the suicide rate for van drivers is 25% higher than the national average.

Since the campaign’s inception we have equipped our fleet vehicles with CALM Driver stickers that provide details of a telephone helpline and website that drivers can use.  

This is part of our employee wellbeing programme, which includes Mental Health Champions, mental health awareness training, an Employee Assistance Programme, an employee health care plan and employee groups and clubs.

Find out more about how we created our employee wellbeing programme.