The 5th November was National Stress Awareness Day, it seems. Whoever decided it should be the same day as Bonfire Night clearly had a sense of humour, anyway…

Funny coincidences notwithstanding, those good people at Europcar have produced a guide to help you avoid the perils of driving-related stress – of which there are many.

Here’s a run down of their best advice. In all seriousness, I would heartily endorse most of this. Road rage and its offspring are extremely dangerous, not to mention bad for your blood pressure. Although written for cars, these tips apply just as much to driving vans – which are bigger, heavier and require correspondingly more car than cars.

So sit back, knock 5mph off your speed, put some decent tunes on and chill out. You’ll get there happier and safer and probably just as fast. You’ll also save money on fuel:

• Ensure you’ve had adequate rest before setting off on your journey – and that everyone has gone to the loo!  There’s nothing worse than getting caught short.
• Don’t exceed the speed limit and notice how much calmer you feel
• Ensure your seating position is comfortable
• Turn off your phone – then you won’t be tempted to answer it if it rings
• Work out your route, as getting lost will increase the risk of stress. Europcar offers Sat Nav units to rent from all its branches
• Department for Transport advise driver to take a 15-minute break every two hours on a long journey
• Say thank you and apologise if you make a mistake
• Sing along to favourite songs or listen to an audio book
• Consider renting a larger car for long journeys to give everyone room

Breathing and relaxation in a traffic jam:

• Inhale through your nose for a count of five, then exhale for a count of eight. Stretch your hands out in front of you with fingers interlaced and palms facing outward. Hold the stretch for five seconds
• Curl your toes and tighten for a count of 10. Release
• Flex your foot (arching toes upward) and hold for a count of 10. Release and extend feet, hold for 10 and release.
• Move up through your body tensing each area for 10 and then releasing.
• When you reach the hands, tense and release, first with fingers splayed outward and extended, then with the hands balled into a fist.
• Scrunch face and then release. Prepare for funny looks from other drivers