With 150 Google searches every month for ‘how to overcome the fear of driving’ a recent study from Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has revealed that Plymouth is officially home to some of the most nervous drivers in the UK. 

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts analysed various data points including traffic, Google search data, weather and casualties, to reveal the UK cities with the most nervous drivers and Plymouth ranked in third place with an overall score of 80.17%, just behind Oldham at 80.68%.  

Why is Plymouth home to some of the most nervous drivers in the UK?

  • In the last 29 years, there has been a 33.2% increase in traffic in Plymouth (1993 – 2022). 
  • Parking is a huge concern within the city, with Google searches for ‘where to park?’ hitting 920 each month (an overall search increase of 111% in the last 12 months)
  • Plymouth experiences an average of 85.7mm of precipitation and 9.7 rainy days per month, meaning driving conditions are not always beneficial to the driver. 
  • The city has just 38 petrol stations within a 10 mile radius, with ‘where is the nearest petrol station’ receiving 480 Google searches every month. 
  • Roundabouts are proving to be unpopular in Plymouth with Google searches for ‘how to avoid roundabouts’ skyrocketing by 20% in the last 12 months. 

The most nervous drivers of the UK

With 150 monthly searches for ‘how to overcome the fear of driving’, compared to Luton with 130 and Peterborough with 140, Plymouth has the third highest volume of Google searches for nerve-related driving questions. 

Rank

Location

Monthly searches for ‘how to overcome fear of driving’ 

Monthly searches for ‘how to avoid roundabouts’

Monthly searches for ‘how to avoid bus lanes’

Monthly searches for ‘where to park’

Monthly searches for ‘where is the nearest petrol station’

Monthly searches for ‘where is the nearest electric charging point?’

Index

1

Liverpool 

250

250

50

1,730

1,280

160

83.60%

2

Oldham

200

130

40

750

420

70

80.68%

3

Plymouth

150

210

20

920

480

50

80.17%

4

Luton

130

140

30

900

520

80

76.98%

5

Peterborough

140

190

20

1,100

540

100

76.47%

Expert reveals key tips for nervous drivers navigating Plymouth

Keith Hawes, Director at Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has revealed five simple steps you can take to ease nerves whilst driving in Plymouth. 

  • Share the journey 

If you are an anxious driver, having a confident driver in the passenger seat can help ease your discomfort whilst driving. They may help calmly direct you to your destination, or simply offer encouragement whilst navigating traffic, roundabouts or parking. 

  • Take advanced lessons 

Even if you have passed your driving test, taking advanced lessons with an instructor can help you overcome your fear of driving. Advanced lessons can vary from motorway lessons to simply navigating roads easily. Talking to an instructor about some of your worries will make you feel better and they can offer ways to ease fear.

  • Avoid driving in rush hour 

If you do have a fear of driving, you may find that driving during rush hour or even in difficult weather conditions can induce worry, so it’s best to avoid driving during these times if you work a 9-5. 

  • Prepare yourself

For anyone with driving anxiety, you should avoid driving on an empty stomach or relying on caffeine. Small things like this can increase your driving fear massively, so before driving ensure you’ve eaten and avoided caffeine to avoid your body feeling anxious before you’ve driven. 

  • Talk to a professional

Not all driving fears can be fixed simply, so seeking therapy or help from a professional can help you identify the cause of your driving anxiety and provide you with techniques to help you become a confident driver.