Movember takes place each year in November and aims to shed light and raise awareness on the most pressing issues men face in today’s society. The issue at the forefront of this campaign is men’s mental health as, each year, approximately 6,500 suicides are registered in the UK, with men accounting for a significant majority.
As conversations are encouraged throughout the month for men to reach out and talk about their day-to-day anxieties and darker feelings, it raises the question of where in society these anxieties can be eased.
To fully grasp how much the auto industry is affecting men across the UK, a new study by Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has asked men about the anxiety they feel when booking an MOT, visiting a car garage and when driving in general.
Auto-anxiety or auto-empowerment? 78% of men feel anxious when having to visit a mechanic
The term ‘MOT Anxiety’ has gained a lot of traction in the last couple of years, with Google searches soaring 33% in the last 12 months as more people open up about their feelings of anxiety behind the wheel and when visiting car garages.
The survey by Nationwide Vehicle Contracts revealed that 78% of men are experiencing anxiety when visiting the car garage, 53% also feel uncomfortable when visiting the garage alone.
The survey highlighted that men are feeling pressure to know about their cars when visiting the garage, with 51% of men claiming they can explain and identify car parts that don’t actually exist. 14% of men also said they wouldn’t want to ask or answer additional questions about their car in case they don’t know the answer.
Some are avoiding the car garage altogether, with 1 in 3 men learning basic car maintenance instead of visiting the garage.
However, it seems the anxiety-provoking experiences are extending beyond the garage as 1 in 4 men have had insults hurled at them whilst driving.
The research has revealed communication is key to increasing auto empowerment for men. 37% of drivers said they would prefer mechanics to break down every cost and 1 in 3 favour receiving a text or email detailing all the work that needs to be done before they pick up their car.
It is recognised that to help men feel comfortable and understood within the automotive industry, mechanics must continue to act professionally by giving thorough information about maintenance and expenses.
Although it may be easy to presume garages are unaware of the overwhelming anxiety men feel when visiting a garage, many are and are taking thoughtful approaches to improve the issue. A spokesperson from M.R. King & Sons explained the steps they’re taking to make drivers feel more comfortable.
Online booking forms and WhatsApp booking options are available
If people would rather not speak to a car garage, having multiple booking options is a great step. We offer an online booking form, as well as WhatsApp booking, so customers can choose the way they would rather communicate with us.
Sit them down and talk through each cost in detail
To make sure customers understand all costs, we break down each piece of work in detail to ensure everyone is aware of the work being undertaken and not blindly agreeing to repairs they don’t understand.
If the car fails its MOT, we will give them an idea of the costs beforehand
It’s important to make sure customers are aware of costs before work is carried out on the car. We always give an idea of cost so the customer knows exactly what they could be paying for the work needed – this helps to avoid any surprises and makes sure everyone is happy and comfortable.
