In the last 30 years, road traffic has increased dramatically, with many cities in the UK suffering from regular traffic jams, slow rush hour speeds and lots of vehicles on the roads.
In a recent study, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has revealed that Stirling has seen a whopping 141% increase in vehicles on the road in 29 years, the biggest rise of any UK city in that period.
What is the current state of Stirling’s traffic?
- The road traffic in Stirling has soared from 323,731,912.8 vehicles in 1993 to 782,526,465.3 in 2022, a 141% increase in 29 years.
- Every month in Stirling, 130 Google searches are made for ‘how to overcome the fear of driving’ so it seems many locals are struggling with confidence.
- Parking is a huge concern within the city, with Google searches for ‘where to park?’ increasing by 14% in just 12 months.
- The city experiences an average of 97mm of precipitation and 11.3 rainy days per month, meaning driving conditions are not always beneficial to the driver.
- The city boasts 40 petrol stations within a 10 mile radius, but ‘where is the nearest petrol station’ still receives 360 Google searches a month, an increase of 17% in the past 12 months.
The biggest traffic increases in the UK
Rank |
City |
1993 |
2022 |
Increase in 29 years |
1 |
Stirling |
323731912.8 |
782526465.3 |
141.72 |
2 |
Doncaster |
1414522843 |
2111802701 |
49.29 |
3 |
Oldham |
501975562.3 |
706726529.3 |
40.79 |
4 |
Wrexham |
477319418.3 |
669276483.3 |
40.22 |
5 |
Durham |
1933100417 |
2700862707 |
39.72 |
Keith Hawes, Director at Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has revealed five simple steps you can take to ease nerves whilst driving in Stirling.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.