GREEN Flag is warning motorists of the dangerous effects stress can have on their driving. Nigel Charlesworth, spokesperson at Green Flag, said: “Year after year, many motorists get caught up in major traffic jams and end up highly stressed and exhausted behind the wheel.”

Green Flag recently commissioned a survey of drivers, in conjunction with road safety charity, Brake, which confirmed that more than three quarters of motorists often feel stressed, angry or are in an excited state when driving.

Green Flag has prepared the following de-stress driving tips:

• Focus on the drive ahead and its hazards.

• Predict and accept things that bother you on the road and make a decision not to let them wind you up

• Stress is an illness - if you spend a lot of time driving and often get uptight behind the wheel, you could damage your health

• Do not drive when you feel tired.

• If you are planning a long journey, make sure that you take regular breaks (every two hours or so)

• Put your mobile on message service and catch up on your calls when you stop for a break.

• Make sure children have something to entertain them.