The Driving Confidence Podcast The Impact of Driving Anxiety on Performance: Dr. Adam Asmal Shares His Research
In this episode, Kev and Tracey are joined by Dr Adam Asmal, a human factors researcher whose personal story inspired his groundbreaking PhD on the impact of driving anxiety on performance and skills. Adam shares insights from his unique research and highlights practical takeaways for anxious drivers.
We chat about:
- The difference between driving anxiety, fear, and phobia—and why getting clear matters
- How anxious thoughts (like catastrophising) can impact your driving experience and performance
- Research-backed hope: why your driving skills are usually much better than you think, even if you’re nervous
While listening to this episode, ask yourself:
- How do your own thoughts impact the way you feel when you drive?
- What are your most common “slip errors” or moments of hesitation behind the wheel?
- If anxiety wasn’t holding you back, in what ways would confident driving change your life?
Listen in to discover why driving anxiety doesn’t mean you lack skill—and get inspired by the latest research for building your driving confidence!
Adam Asmal PhD
Adam Asmal is a Human Factors researcher and consultant with expertise in driving behaviour, anxiety, and performance. He recently completed his PhD on the impact of driving anxiety, combining qualitative and quantitative methods to explore how psychology and human factors intersect on the road. With experience as a Research Assistant on projects for the UK Department of Transport, Adam has also applied his skills to issues such as fatigue in the maritime industry. Beyond his technical strengths he is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Find out more about how we can help transform the way you feel about driving and follow us on social media:
The Drive Calm Journal:
A Twelve-Week Prompt Journal for Anxious Drivers - available to buy in all formats on Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/hdrzRKj
Get help from Kev and Tracey at Confident Drivers:
Sign up for our free weekly newsletter that includes a tip of the week plus the latest news and podcast episode: Sign up Here
Try one of our most popular tools, the Confident Drivers Coaching Wheel, to help you identify your driving strengths and weaknesses and see if you are driving test-ready: https://confident-drivers.newzenler.com/courses/coachingwheel-testready
Are you ready to stop the search on social media and start taking action to overcome your driving concerns? Our Nervous Drivers Calming Kit has the online tools and video guides you need to master your driving anxiety. Get immediate access, starting from just £27
Nervous Drivers Calming Kit: https://confident-drivers.newzenler.com/courses/nervous-drivers-calming-kit
Do you know that you would like some individual support from us, to create a personalised plan with our help and added accountability to take action? Then our Driving Confidence coaching will help, we offer four different levels of help to suit your needs.
One-to-One Driving Confidence Coaching:
https://www.confidentdrivers.co.uk/drivingconfidencecoaching
Leave us a Tip / Buy us a coffee:
https://driving-confidence-podcast.captivate.fm/support
Follow or contact us on Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/confidentdriver/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confidentdrivers/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtVucIvyC_2AX33zNL7-yoQ
Podcast Newsletter
If you would like us to keep you up to date with podcast episodes, click the most appropriate link for you:
Mentioned in this episode:
Find our Drive Calm Journal on Amazon
* Do you avoid driving whenever possible? * Do you feel like the only person who is anxious about driving? * Would you like to drive wherever you want, whenever you want? * Are you ready to take action to improve your driving confidence? Follow the prompts, questions, exercises and reflections each week to create your own goal based action plan to work on your driving mindset. Created by Kev & Tracey Field to help anxious drivers take action and track their progress over twelve weeks based on our unique Drive Calm® System, you set your own goals so you can work at your own pace.