Mental health problems affect every individual, whether they are idle or busy, except that some activities and conditions aggravate those problems in certain people, and drivers of vehicles are not exempt.

Driving a vehicle involves a series of motor activities that can cause stress, and this in turn can generate chemical reactions that alter the driver’s mind.

One might think that driving a vehicle is not tedious and does not require any training, but that can be a mistake. If you have to drive for short distances the problems would not be very noticeable, but in large cities where you have to spend hours behind the wheel to get from one place to another, or in the case of taxi drivers, the stress can be very high. It requires hours of sitting in the same position without the ability to stretch much while the muscles become rigid, constant movements of the arms and legs, reflexes attentive to any unforeseen situation and much concentration not to fall asleep if the stretch is too long.

If the driver is exposed to all these behaviors for too long, it can lead to serious problems in his psyche. Many of these mental health problems are the cause of many traffic accidents, because drivers who are exposed to all of these behaviors are more likely to despair at traffic lights, take too bold or risky measures, or neglect the traffic ahead.
Because of them it is very important to take into account all the factors that can affect the mental health of the driver, which can be different depending on the type of vehicle they drive.

 

Mental Health Problems of Light Vehicle Drivers

Drivers of light vehicles can be the least affected if they have a comfortable vehicle, with leather seats and all the technologies that facilitate road life. But that is the least of the cases, as most people still have vehicles that give them problems from time to time and that may not be very ergonomic for long journeys.
When it comes to small vehicles, it may be too compact for the driver’s body, which can end up causing skin and muscle discomfort, resulting in stiffness and stress.

 

Mental Health Problems of Heavy Vehicle Drivers

Drivers of heavy vehicles are always the most affected by mental health problems, as they have to undergo higher loads of pressure and stress. They usually drive for a company that needs to transport goods to other cities, so they constantly have to sit in their stiff seats for extended hours. In addition, heavy vehicles are much more complicated to drive than light ones, as these are generally mechanical and require the action of a hand on the gear lever, and require much attention and effort to turn in confined spaces. All this adds a lot of stress to these drivers, so it is recommended that they undergo specialized training before devoting themselves to the task of driving these vehicles, so as not to lose their sanity as time goes by.
For this type of tasks there are specialized companies to train drivers and check their mental state, and one of the best is Specialised HGV. This is a company specialized in training and regulating the mental health of drivers of heavy vehicles. This company is responsible for providing the best training to avoid behaviors that cause stress and exhaustion when driving, and to assist drivers who are already affected by mental health problems due to driving, to recover them and can continue driving like anyone else.