We've all experienced driving stress at one point or another. A wide variety of external and internal stress factors can all contribute towards drivers experiencing frustration that can sometimes escalate into road rage. The cause of these stresses can be found within 4 levels of stress:
Environmental Stress
a } Too much traffic
b } Inadequate lanes and highways
c } Too many accidents
d } Traffic jams
e } Poisonous toxins emitted by cars (e.g. carbon monoxide and lead )
Nutritional Stress
a } Improper or inadequate nutrients which affect proper working of the mind and body
b } Poor diet which may cause nutrient deficiency
c } Too much sugar, artificial colourings, preservatives, alcohol, caffeine, MSG that may cause body imbalance and irritability.
Physical Stress
a } Illness
b } Backaches
c } Headaches
d } Side effects of prescription, over the counter and recreational drugs that may have side effects of drowsiness, which reduces alertness.
Emotional Stress
a } Negative emotions (e.g. frustration, anger)
b } Watching and absorbing bad driving behaviour from parents, movies and commercials
c } Increased stress in daily life. With too much stress, people feel they are losing control. The car is a powerful yet
obedient tool, associated with a driver's emotional ego, and sometimes status. The car gives the driver a direct
way to control their environment so that they feel they are gaining some control over their lives.
While these are generic factors that could lead to stress in every driver, there are particular factors that could lead to road rage. These factors occur when another driver:
. Swears or uses name calling
. Comes to a rolling stop
. Speeds
. Doesn't signal when changing lanes
. Makes an illegal turn
. Follows too closely (tailing)
. jumps a red light
. Fails to yield
Positive ways to handle road rage include:
1 . Use positive thought and action.
2 . Remember that people make mistakes so be prepared to give them some allowance, just as you would hope that they would be equally tolerant when you make a mistake.
3 . Practice safe driving.
4 . Acquire a supportive driving philosophy.
5 . Don't challenge aggressive drivers.
6 . Avoid aggressive drivers and report them to your traffic authorities.
7 . Be physically fit and able to drive.
8 . Reduce the stress in your daily life with exercise, meditation, deep breathing, or hobbies.
9 . Eat properly and get enough rest.
10. Take supportive vitamins, minerals, and nutrients
Road Vision
When driving, eyestrain, eye fatigue and night-blindness can produce confusion, hesitation and decreased alertness when driving. Some possible causes of eyestrain, eye fatigue and night-blindness can be contributed to:
. Aging
. Using eyes intently for hours, without rest, in an enclosed space
. Poor diet
. Improper nutrients
. Fatigue
. Incorrect vision correction (e.g. wearing improper lenses)
Some of the symptoms of eyestrain, eye fatigue and poor vision
. Inability to focus well
. Redness
. Tearing
. Itchiness
. Swelling
. Burning
. Blurred vision
. Sensitivity to glare
. Headaches
. Decreased concentration
. Difficulty adjusting to light
. Worsening nearsightedness
. Combination of nicotine, sugar, and caffeine may temporarily affect vision
Positive ways to handle eyestrain, eye fatigue and poor night vision are:
1 . Take proper eye supporting nutrients (bilberry, zinc, lutein, lyclopean, Vitamin A)
2 . Take a 1O-minute rest. Lie down, close your eyes and place a cold compress on your eyes.
3 . Take frequent breaks.
4 . Pullover for a moment and focus on something in the distance.
5 . Try to control glare with anti-reflective coating on your glasses and windshield.
6 . Keep your glasses and windshield clean.
7 . Remove contact lenses after 24-hours.
8 . Have regular eye exams.
9 . Eat a proper diet.
10. Get proper rest.
ROAD FATIGUE
Fatigue is a symptom and not a disorder. Again the 4 stresses outlined earlier in this article can contribute to road fatigue:
1 . Environmental Stress
. Poisonous toxins like carbon monoxide and lead emitted by cars are inhaled and could affect the body.
. Inside pollutants such as prescription and over-the-counter drugs, alcohol, sugar, wheat, dairy products, artificial colouring, preservatives).
. Too much traffic.
. Inadequate lanes and highways.
. Long, monotonous highway driving.
2 . Nutritional Stress
. Improper or inadequate nutrients, which affect the proper working of the body and mind.
. Inadequate diet which may cause nutrient deficiency
3 . Physical Stress
. Illness (e.g. colds, flu, hypothyroidism)
. Food allergies
. Driving too long without a break
. Negative emotions (e.g. depression, boredom, anxiety)
. Overworking
. Stress
Positive ways to handle road fatigue:
1 . Keep alert with music or conversation. But not too much that you are distracted from the driving task.
2 . Take a break; stop driving when you are over tired.
3 . Get adequate rest.
4 . Plan long trips with interesting stops along the way.
S . Allow enough time for rest stops.
6 . Eat a proper diet including fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, grains, seeds, and nuts.
7 . Avoid energy robbing foods like sugar, alcohol, fats, white flour, or processed foods.
8 . Get regular exercise.
9 . Take supportive vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
10. Keep a positive attitude.
Article contributed by AAM
