New study names Laois as most stressful county to drive in
Three quarters of posts about driving in Laois mention stressful situations
New research from a transport company has revealed that Laois is considered the most stressful county to drive in.
SNAP road transport solutions have analysed driving-related social media posts from every Irish county in 2025, and have based their research on the stress-related language used in posts.
In Laois, 75.3% of social media posts related to driving were related to stress and negativity. Themes mentions included unpredictable traffic, narrow streets, congestion and inconsistent road signage.
As Laois is home to a significant section of the M7 commuter route, it topped the list with 75.3% of posts indicating stress about driving.
This aligns with the heavy car dependency in the area, with 73% of commuters in the county travelling by private car, according to Laois County Council.
The 10 most stressful Irish counties for drivers are:
SNAP’s research shows the least stressful counties to drive in are Carlow (25%), Longford (41.7%) and Donegal (49.5%.)
Stress behind the wheel endangers both the driver and the public; indeed, research from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute indicates that driving while angry, sad, or agitated makes a crash ten times more likely than at baseline.
“This research highlights how driving in certain areas can affect driver wellbeing and confidence," said Matthew Bellamy, managing director at SNAP.
“Driver stress can be exacerbated by various factors like narrow roads, congestion and unclear signage. With stress scores in Ireland notably high, the figures highlight persistent challenges for drivers in the country, and specifically in these counties.
"It’s widely acknowledged that stress can contribute to accident rates, so it's important to raise awareness about areas that pose higher stress levels so that drivers can be informed when planning their journeys," Mr Bellamy finished.