Calm down, calm down!… Liverpool tops list of most stressful European cities for drivers

Limited parking for drivers, heavy traffic and congestion and route restrictions are all contributing factors to stress, as well as little access to rest areas, fuelling or amenities.

Stress was measured by tracking keywords and phrases linked to negative emotions in England and local languages. 60.5% of posts related to Liverpool referred to stress, followed by Prague (59.2%) and Dublin (58.5%).

The most stressful UK cities for parking in 2025 were Newcastle upon Tyne (65.3%), Liverpool (64.4%) and Middlesborough (63.9%). Congestion hotspots such as Liverpool’s Mersey Tunnels and the M25 were routes that resulted in elevated stress levels. Dublin ranked third as Europe’s most congested city, with drivers delayed an average of 81 hours annually due to heavy traffic.

The research demonstrated how city conditions directly affect driver wellbeing and by giving fleets and managers clear, actionable insights, drivers can be better supported, with smarter routes planned to reduce urban driving pressures.

Maddi Solloway-Price, Head of Road Freight & English Regions Policy at Logistics UK said: “At Logistics UK we’ve been calling for a national review of driver facilities and an increase in provision, because we know how important it is for drivers, who work long shifts and do so tirelessly, to have safe and secure facilities to rest. While there are some fantastic facilities available, there just isn’t enough safe parking with access to hygiene facilities across our road network.

“This research from SNAP reinforces that need, by mapping out the most stressful European cities, with inadequate infrastructure being a major contributor.

“It demonstrates how a lack of proper facilities affects the physical and mental wellbeing of drivers, along with route restrictions and difficult parking, creating unnecessary stress.

“Drivers depend on the right infrastructure to make sure they can do their job, and roadside facilities are a crucial part of that equation.”