Driving Frustrations — And How to Handle Them

Driving can be a whole lot of fun. Who doesn’t love the thought of taking their beloved car on a great journey into nature on a beautiful spring afternoon? Alas, those moments are few and far between. The majority of the time, we’re using our vehicles for mundane everyday tasks, such as driving to work or getting supplies from the store. 

And while those moments can be fun, they can also provide frustrating elements that we’d rather do without. Often, these frustrations aren’t within our control. Only how we respond to them is. In this post, we’ll look at the most annoying aspects of driving, and offer some handy tips on how you can handle them.

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Everyday Traffic Jams

Even if you love driving, you probably hate traffic jams. After all, you’re actually not driving when you’re sitting bumper-to-bumper. That’s what’s annoying about them. While the occasional traffic jam is just part and parcel of being on the road, if you’re encountering them every single day, then that’s a problem. You can’t stop other people from driving at the same time as you, but you can normally control your route. Is there a different way to get to the office than the normal one? If so, take it. Even if it adds to your journey time, you’ll probably prefer it if it means you’re actively driving rather than just sitting there.

Another word on your commute: if you get a sense that you’re wasting time by driving an hour to work each day, then look at making it more valuable. Listening to a podcast or learning a language will make it worthwhile. 

Issues on the Road

You’ll love your car — but only when it’s working as it should. If you’re going to encounter a problem with your vehicle, then you’ll hope that it’s when your car is still sitting in your driveway. But that’s not always the case. If you break down while on the roads, then your day will inevitably be impacted. The solution? Handle the problem as soon as you can. Call a towing service to transport your car to a local garage, tell your boss you won’t make it into the office, and try to turn your day around. Your car might only require a bit of work, in which case you can be back on the road as soon as the mechanic has finished the job. 

Constant Fuel Trips

How awesome would it be if the cost of fuel came included with the price of the vehicle? Alas, that’s a dream world. You can’t do much about having to give your car juice, but you can control how much you spend on it, to an extent. If you have a traditional fuel car and find that you’re always at the petrol pump, then take a look at your driving style. Many people end up burning through their fuel all because of their aggressive driving style. If you accelerate and brake gently and stick to the right gears, then you’ll use less fuel — and that means you’ll spend less money at the pump. 

Other Drivers

Most drivers are absolutely fine. But you never notice those people, because, well, they’re just doing what they’re supposed to be doing. It’s the annoying drivers that you notice. If someone cuts you off or otherwise drives in a way you don’t agree with, then the normal reaction will be for your blood to boil. But here’s the thing: your anger in those situations doesn’t help you at all. Even if you can make your feelings known to the driver, it’s unlikely to serve you well. It’s best to have a zen approach to other drivers. They can do their thing, but they’re not going to impact your good mood! Of course, if they’re driving in a genuinely dangerous way, then that’s a different matter, but if a car far up the road does something slightly annoying, then just let it go. 

Miserable Driving 
We live in a society that (mostly) demands that we drive. Unless you live in a city centre, it’s hard to take care of life’s essentials if you don’t have a set of wheels. You’ll find that your driving obligations are much less fun if you don’t like the vehicle you’re driving. In fact, given the amount of time we often have to drive, you might find that your car is actively making you miserable! If you don’t like starting up your engine, then consider upgrading your car to one that you do like.