Navigating drivers ’ mental wellbeing in a COVID-19 world
WORDS BY ANBY ALCOMENDAS
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an overwhelming impact on the mental health of the global population and professional drivers in Australia are not immune to this .
Poor mental health is detrimental to driving performance and road safety because it affects a driver ’ s behaviours and decision-making while on the road . This shines a spotlight on the importance of maintaining good mental health especially during the pandemic .
Workplace stress among drivers during the pandemic
According to
VicRoads , drivers suffering from mental health problems may not have a clear focus which then increases the chances of having an accident .
In early 2021 , car leasing and business mobility specialist Alphabet GB found that 35 percent of fleet drivers said their mental health has been affected by COVID-19 . According to their research , the longer working hours and the need to take on increase workloads have contributed to this .
As essential workers drivers are under pressure to deliver essential goods and services during these trying times . Drivers can experience fear and anxiety of contracting the virus while on the road .
Furthermore , working long hours in an isolated environment and spending so much time away from family and friends can also take a toll on drivers ’ mental well-being .
And when this is all paired with the usual stresses of being in the mobile workplace , it can be difficult to focus on driving safely .
Improving mental health in the mobile workplace
Dealing with the psychological effects of the pandemic in fleets should be a combined effort of individual drivers and fleet managers .
10 ISSUE 31 OCTOBER 2021 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU