Global searches for ‘stress while driving’ are up +100% over the past 12 months¹.
New data from Compare the Market AU analyses various driving stressor factors, including road quality, thefts, and fatality rates, to reveal the most stressful countries to drive in.
Romania is ranked as the most stressful country for drivers, while the Netherlands is the least stressful.
Driving can be a stressful experience, influenced by factors often beyond our control – from poor road infrastructure to the availability of electric charging points. In fact, global searches for “stress while driving” have surged by more than 100% over the past 12 months.
With so many potential stressors,?
To find out which countries are the most challenging to drive in, Compare the Market AU, analysed various factors, including electric charger availability, average congestion, and accident rates.
The results paint an interesting picture:
| Rank | Country | Avg Congestion (%) | Road Quality | Fatality Rate per 100,000 | Motor Thefts per 100,000 | 2hr Avg Parking Cost (USD) | Electric Car Chargers | “Stressful Driving” Search Volume | Max Speed Limit (kph) | Total Score (Max 100) |
| 1 | Romania | 55 | 3 | 9.6 | 26.6 | 2.87 | 1,972 | 890 | 130 | 50.96 |
| 2 | Australia | 29.9 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 210.2 | 19.12 | 279 | 2,810 | 130 | 48.376 |
| 3 | United States | 22.7 | 5.5 | 14.2 | 291.3 | 9.38 | 16,687 | 10,100 | 137 | 48.337 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 28.2 | 4.5 | 6.6 | 954 | 8.79 | 298 | 680 | 110 | 48.137 |
| 5 | Italy | 29 | 4.4 | 5 | 213 | 5.13 | 30,774 | 15,810 | 130 | 46.711 |
| 6 | Bulgaria | 38 | 3.4 | 8.4 | 22.2 | 2.5 | 334 | 550 | 140 | 44.866 |
| 7 | Greece | 40.5 | 4.6 | 7.3 | 177.1 | 6.93 | 986 | 660 | 130 | 44.098 |
| 8 | South Africa | 26.8 | 4.5 | 24.5 | – | 1.33 | 35 | 4,020 | 120 | 43.694 |
| 9 | United Arab Emirates | 16.8 | 6 | 5.9 | 5.3 | 2.76 | 261 | 20,160 | 160 | 43.362 |
| 10 | Czechia | 31.3 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 33 | 2.7 | 1,995 | 3,800 | 150 | 43.227 |
Romania ranks as the most stressful country for drivers, with a score of 50,96. The country had the worst congestion rate (55%) among all those analysed — 25% higher than Australia (29,9%) and more than double that of the US (22,7%). Romania’s notorious lack of highways contributes to this congestion. Additionally, Romania scored the lowest for road quality in the top 10, with a score of just 3 out of 7.
Moving further down the world, Australia ranks second, partly due to its high parking costs, averaging AUD $28.30 for two hours – over twice as expensive as the US ($13,88). It also places 10th for “stressful driving” searches, with 2 810 searches annually. The country’s 130kmph maximum speed limit, which matches that of Romania, also likely contributes to driver stress.
The US, with its extensive road networks, ranked third. Despite its reputation for road trips, the US has the second-highest road fatality rate per 100 000 (14.2), surpassed only by South Africa (24.5). Moreover, the US ranks third worst for car thefts (291.3 per 100 000).
New Zealand takes fourth place with a score of 48.14. Although it enjoys relatively low congestion at 28,2%, it has the seventh worst road quality of the countries analysed.
European nations Italy, Bulgaria, and Greece also feature in the top 10 most stressful countries to drive in. Italy ranks sixth for road quality and records the second-highest search volume for “stressful driving”, while Bulgaria scores low on road quality and ranks joint third for the highest speed limits.
The Netherlands tops the list as the least stressful country for drivers, offering the second-highest road quality and the most extensive electric charger network. Spain, Croatia, and Germany also rank highly, with European countries claiming 8 of the top 10 spots for the least stressful driving conditions.
Adrian Taylor, executive GM of general insurance at Compare the Market AU, says: “Driving can be a stressful experience, with so many things to consider for a safe and stress-free driving experience – however, it doesn’t help that many of these factors rely on the behaviour of other drivers, and the road infrastructure.
“With this in mind, it’s important to make sure that your car insurance policy covers you for everything that is important to you, including theft and third-party damage. It’s important to compare car insurance to look for the right policy to suit your needs.”