Driving Anxiety/State of US in 2026
Long story short, was OTR truck driver for 3 years and line haul for 2 years following. Over 700,000 miles to date, accident free.
At least every other day during my full time career, I witnessed the aftermath/accident scene of crashes. More often than not, involving semi vs cars. Many were not pretty and fatal was a more likely outcome. Can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen a stretcher go into an ambulance from my POV.
I changed careers out of truck driving about eight months ago, but feel PTSD coming on as well as rebound anxiety as I’m still often on the road for work, but in a car.
I no longer feel comfortable behind the seat of any vehicle on any roadway, knowing what’s bound to happen in the near future. Here in East Tennessee interstates 26/81 see crashes nearly every day between Kingsport and Johnson City. Usually in the morning is the worst.
It’s a literal racetrack, 65 MPH means 85+. I get tailgated running five over the limit on two lane roads and always have people cut me off. I no longer feel safe leaving home.
Living in 2026 at 30 as a sober single Christian gets you down in social circles but it seems as though nearly everyone I meet are rude, mean, and selfish. Never looking to make friends or branch out.
Our country didn’t feel like this before Covid. Not in the slightest. Neither did driver behavior. People were courteous before Covid.
Does anyone else digress or is it just this neck of the woods in East Tennessee? BTW, I wasn’t born or raised here. Moved here three years ago for a job/ the warmer climate.