Top Driving Stress Factors: 'Traffic Jams' Rank First, 'Other Drivers' Manners' Second, with External Causes Dominating

Park24 Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichi Nishikawa) announces the results of a survey on 'driving stress' conducted among members of its driver-focused membership service, 'Times Club®'.

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Survey Highlights

① 'Traffic jams' and 'other drivers' driving manners' rank highest as driving stress factors, each exceeding 50%

② The majority begin to feel discomfort after '2–3 hours' of continuous driving

③ Over 60% relieve driving stress by 'listening to music or radio'

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Park24 releases survey results on cars and transportation every month on the 9th. The detailed findings of this month's survey on 'driving stress' are as follows.

® A membership service with no enrollment or annual fees. Members earn points through usage of Times Parking, Times Car, and Times Car Rental, and enjoy exclusive member benefits. Membership stands at 13.74 million as of May 2026.

® This survey targeted individuals who have used car-related services from Park24 Group, such as parking lots, car sharing, and car rentals.

① 'Traffic jams' and 'other drivers' driving manners' rank highest as driving stress factors

When asked about stress during driving, 'being caught in traffic jams' ranked first at 72%, followed by 'other drivers' driving manners' at 58%, significantly surpassing other items. This indicates that external factors, which drivers cannot control, heavily influence driving stress.

② The majority begin to feel discomfort after '2–3 hours' of continuous driving

When driving continuously, the time at which driving begins to feel 'tiring' was '2–3 hours' for 37% of respondents, the highest percentage. This was followed by '3 hours or more' at 30% and '1–2 hours' at 19%. Meanwhile, 12% responded that they 'do not feel tired'.

Regarding the effects of long-duration driving, 'feeling drowsy while driving' (53%) and 'reduced concentration while driving' (46%) ranked highest, revealing that about half of drivers perceive a decline in attention and focus necessary for safe driving. Additionally, impacts after driving were observed, such as 'reduced motivation due to fatigue' (14%) and 'reduced performance in work or activities after arriving at the destination' (12%), indicating that the burden extends beyond driving to subsequent activities.

③ Over 60% relieve driving stress by 'listening to music or radio'

When asked about methods to relieve driving stress, 'listening to music or radio' ranked first at 66%, followed by 'visiting service areas or roadside stations' at 44%, and 'consuming drinks or light snacks' at 37%, suggesting that drivers alleviate stress by taking breaks and changing their mood. In contrast, a small minority (11%) reported reviewing their transportation method itself, such as 'choosing alternative means like local trains or Shinkansen'.

This survey revealed that 'traffic jams' account for over 70% of driving stress factors. It also became clear that many drivers feel that long-duration driving leads to reduced attention and concentration necessary for safe driving.

To reduce the burden of traffic jams and long-duration driving, it is effective not to rely solely on cars but to utilize 'Rail & Car Share'—a combination of railways and car sharing. By using public transportation such as trains to reach the nearest station to the destination, and then using car sharing for local travel around the destination, driving time can be minimized, the burden reduced, and mobility made more efficient.

To reduce stress while driving and make mobility more comfortable and safe, why not consider 'Rail & Car Share' using 'Times Car', which operates numerous stations near train stations?

Survey Overview

Target: Times Club members

(Individuals who joined on or after March 2, 2025, and have recently used Park24 Group services®)

® Target services: hourly parking, reservation-based parking, car sharing, car rental

Survey method: Closed online questionnaire

Survey period: March 2, 2026 – March 10, 2026

Valid responses: 4,752

* Due to rounding, percentages may not total exactly 100%.

* For corporate use of this survey's results in official materials, please contact our company.

(Tel: 03-3491-8924; media coverage is exempt)