Your drivers’ blood pressure – is it on your radar?

Driver wellbeing: is high blood pressure on your radar?

Last year, I experienced a sudden and intense physical sensation while working at my desk – what felt like an all-over fizzing. It turned out to be dangerously high blood pressure. I had no idea. And I suspect many of your drivers wouldn’t either.

According to the Office for National Statistics, around 32% of UK adults have high blood pressure, yet nearly 30% of those remain undiagnosed. That’s 4–5 million people in England alone – many of whom may be behind the wheel every day.

Many people don’t understand blood pressure readings (I was one of them) but it’s important to learn what they mean. Your normal (or ideal) blood pressure should be between 90 and 120 systolic (the ‘over’ number when the heart contracts) and 60 to 80 diastolic (the ‘under’ number when the heart relaxes). High blood pressure is considered to be 140+ systolic and 90+ diastolic.

It’s important to be informed in this way because worrying about health can actually increase stress, which in turn causes physical and mental issues, distraction and raised blood pressure; it then become a vicious cycle.

Why this matters for driver managers

High blood pressure is often symptomless but can have serious consequences: fatigue, distraction, irritability, and increased risk of incidents. For those who drive professionally, the combination of stress, poor sleep, financial pressure, and isolation can create a perfect storm. As a manager, you’re in a unique position to spot the signs early and support your team before issues escalate.

Stress is a major contributor to high blood pressure – and it’s often work-related. Drivers face time pressure, traffic congestion, delivery deadlines, and route changes. These stressors don’t just affect performance; they impact health.

Even outside the cab, financial insecurity, relationship strain, and poor sleep compound the problem. In 2023, financial stress overtook relationship issues as the leading cause of anxiety in the UK. For drivers on low or unpredictable incomes, the pressure to overwork or skip medical care is real – and dangerous.

Understand the rules

Understanding the Working Time Directive (WTD) and EU drivers’ hours rules is essential, but they’re not always straightforward:

• Employees (general): Require a 20-minute break for every 6 hours worked.
• Light vehicle drivers: May drive up to 10 hours/day with no specific break requirement, though WTD still applies.
• Heavy vehicle drivers (tachograph-fitted, >3.5 tonnes GVW): Must take a break every 4.5 hours of driving.
• Self-employed drivers: Exempt from parts of WTD but still expected to avoid unsafe practices.

Managers must ensure compliance – but also look beyond the legal minimums to promote genuine wellbeing.

Understanding where stress comes from

Beyond the legal requirement for breaks, there are contributing factors to stress and high blood pressure that you must be aware of and proactively self manage.

Financial pressure is one of the strongest links to high blood pressure; factors like ignoring money issues i.e. leaving bills unopened or not paying them at all and skipping meals or staying home to save money, can cause real problems and lead to increased social isolation and loneliness. Low wages, unpredictable work, or freelance situations can mean ongoing financial stress, while the cost of living, fuel prices, or even paying for meals on the road can feel overwhelming. It can lead to overworking, taking unsafe jobs, or ignoring personal medical care.

Driving jobs can often mean long periods away from home, which places an enormous strain on relationships by missing family events, poor or disrupted communication, or developing partner resentment.

Relationship stress contributes heavily to anxiety, depression, and raised blood pressure.

Fatigue: The Silent Risk

Fatigue often occurs as a result of stress, and it’s a major contributor to road accidents in the UK. According to Brake, up to 20% of crashes on motorways are sleep-related. When stress levels rise and sleep suffers, your drivers’ ability to concentrate, to make decisions, and to react quickly all decline.

Support your drivers by:

• Promoting 7–8 hours of sleep, even with split shifts
• Encouraging short naps where appropriate; 15–30 minutes is sometimes all that’s needed to recharge and reset.
• Investing in proper sleep environments (e.g. blackout curtains, earplugs, quality mattresses for sleeper cabs)

Seasonal Pressures

Winter brings additional challenges: shorter days, cold weather, and reduced physical activity. These can trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in some people, which results in low mood, poor sleep, and reduced motivation.

Help your team by:

• Promoting daylight exposure or daylight lamps
• Ensuring vehicles are properly heated
• Encouraging physical activity and Vitamin D intake from sunlight
• Reviewing work patterns to improve exposure to daylight

What You Can Do as a Manager

Encourage regular check-ins, flexible scheduling where possible, and access to counselling or employee assistance programmes. Sometimes, a simple message or video call can make a big difference.

• Raise awareness: Educate your team about blood pressure and stress symptoms.
• Encourage monitoring: Provide access to blood pressure monitors and wellbeing checks.
• Create a culture of openness: Make it easier for drivers to talk about stress, fatigue, and financial concerns.
• Signpost support: Refer to services like Step Change, Citizens Advice, or internal wellbeing programmes.
• Lead by example: Model healthy work habits and prioritise wellbeing in your operational decisions.

Remember, your vehicles may run on petrol, diesel or electricity – but your drivers run on rest, balance, and wellbeing.