Health risk related to being a Driving Instructor

In all walks of life there has to be a balance between working and remaining fit and healthy.
When it comes to being a driving instructor, you have to make a conscious effort to ensure that it's not all work work work.

Sitting in a car for hours on end can lead to health issues.

Just to name a few.

Musculoskeletal problems.

Back pain.

Neck and shoulder pain.

Potential weight issues due to prolonged sitting.

Stress related to time keeping.

Stress related to being on high alert all day long.

Mental fatigue.

Exposure to fumes.

Noise exposure.

Bladder infections.

Gastric Issues.

Impotence.

Sciatica.

Muscle loss.

Skin Cancer.


At some stage during a driving instructors career, they will experience some, or even all of the items listed above.

We know we are all probably guilty of grabbing a quick snack for our local shops just to see us over to the next real meal, or that Costa coffee as it's quick and easy to grab one when on the go.

Flipping from one pupil to the next and grabbing what we can when we can. But it will eventually take its toll.

As part of your working day, it is advisable to prepare yourself for the day ahead.

Make time to take breaks in between your clients so that you can get out of your car and take a walk, stretch your legs and get the blood flowing around your body again.

As a young instructor everything seems rosy and it doesn't feel like its affecting you at all. but just tiny changes every single day of the week eventually build to something more serious in the long run. Now it might take years for the affects of not setting a strict regime on your work day routine, but it will possibly be too late by the time you start acting on it to remedy years of neglect.


Time in between clients not only allows you to get your blood flowing around your body, and keep your muscles working, but it also give you time to mentally set yourself up for your next client so that they are getting 100% of your time.

If you jump from one client to the next, are you truly focused on the next client 100% or do you still have things bouncing around in your head from your previous client?

Maybe it will be things like "what could I have done differently to have assisted my previous client"

It may be that your thinking about what you might need to write up in your previous pupils notes at the end of the day.

But if you've not given yourself time to unwind from your previous client, you won't be mentally set for your next client.

Just breaking down some of the health issues shown above.

Musculoskeletal Problems. Will all be derived from sitting for too long, back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, even knee and leg pain if you don't have adequate leg space.

Weight issues. Again by sitting for too long you can reduce your metabolism, potentially leading to weight gain and other health related problems.

Exposure to Noxious fumes and the suns rays. Exhaust fumes will contain carbon monoxide along with many other noxious fumes. You have your air-con on you will naturally be taking a percentage of those fumes into the car with you every day of the week.
The suns rays, especially related to your arms can lead to skin cancer. Ensure you cover up with sun cream especially during the summer months.

Nosie exposure. Constant noise from traffic and even from your vehicle can lead to health related problems from as little as causing headaches to more serious hearing related problems.

Stress! Well there are endless amounts of stress related issues that come from being a driving instructor.
Has your pupil paid?
Do you have enough pupils to pay your bills?
The general standard of driving on todays roads?
Learner abuse driver's.
Car troubles.
Clients with attitude.
Driving test backlogs.

This list is not exhaustive but you get the idea, Stress plays a huge factor in health related matters.

Bladder infections. How many times have you "held it in"? possibly more times than you care to think about. But this is seriously not good for your health. Bladder infections, especially UTI's can come from not emptying your bladder regularly enough, and can also lead to a weakening of your bladder which them impacts on your ability to fully empty your bladder each time you pee. This then builds up a system of needing to pee more regularly which in turn makes the holding  fluid more often with an urge to pee more frequently. 

Sitting for a prolonged period of time can lead to Sciatica,and herniated disc. Sciatica is normally related to a trapped nerve. But regular exercise can help this.

Mental fatigue. We always recommend to our clients that they should take a break when driving after about 2 hours. This is because driving is mentally tiring as well as encouraging them to get out and stretch their legs. Why do we recommend this but then don't do it ourselves?
You've probably all been there, especially as a new instructor, an 8 hour day totally wipes you out! Not necessarily physically, but definitely mentally.
Do yourself a favour and take those breaks. It may mean losing some money, but you'll be no use to anyone when your mentally and physically exhausted. And if you get to that stage, it's highly likely you won't be earning a penny. Think about it.