How can stress impact your driving?

Stress can significantly diminish your ability to concentrate on the driving task, which is critical for safe driving. When you are under stress, your mind may become preoccupied with anxiety or distractions, making it harder to focus on the road, other vehicles, and traffic signals. This lack of concentration can lead to poor decision-making and slower reaction times, which can increase the risk of accidents.

On the other hand, while some might think that stress could make a driver more cautious or improve reflexes, research indicates that it tends to have the opposite effect. Stress can lead to an overestimation of abilities, resulting in dangerous behaviors such as speeding or aggressive driving. Therefore, understanding the impact of stress on concentration reinforces the importance of being in the right mental state before getting behind the wheel.