Unfortunately for millions of Americans this isn’t a nightmare
you’ll wake up for, but a grim daily reality as they commute to work, a bad
dream that plays out both ways. A long,
harrowing, and frustrating ride to work can be one of the most stressful and
time wasting rituals of an otherwise great day.
Studies show that many motorists waste the equivalent of a whole week or
more per year stranded in their cars in traffic. But it doesn’t always have to be like that –
there are ways to reduce your commute time or at least adapt to make great use
of that time – and maybe even enjoy it!
Here are some facts about our collective slow-moving rush to
and from work, and tips to help you wake up from the nightmare!
Just how much time do we spend stuck in traffic?
According to the Texas Transport Institute, the average
American wastes 27 hours a year stuck in traffic. That doesn’t mean their total commute time is
27 hours of course, but that’s how long we sit in traffic jams that don’t move.
What does it cost us?
At least $78 billion a year (data from the year 2005) are
lost every year in wasted working hours and extra gas. Americans had to buy an additional 2.9
billion dollars of gas because of traffic congestion at an additional cost of
$710 a year.
Here is a list of the worst 10 for annual hours of delay
(not total drive time) per commuter for U.S. metropolitan areas:
Washington D.C.: 67
hours
Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Ana: 61 hours
San Francisco, Oakland: 61 hours
New York, Newark: 59
hours
Boston: 53 hours
Houston: 52 hours
Atlanta: 51 hours
Chicago: 51 hours
Philadelphia: 48
hours
Seattle: 48 hours.
How bad are our highways?
31% of highways in the U.S. suffer serious traffic
congestions. Over the last 25 years,
highway traffic has increased 131% and it’s expected to increase another 40%
just by 2015! Highways account for only
1.2% of our total roadways but include 50% of our trick traffic and 25% of all
passenger traffic.
What are some solutions to ease traffic and long commutes?
Communications systems –
Digital message boards beside or on top of the highway alert
motorists to accidents, drive times, upcoming road construction, slow downs,
bad weather, and alternate routes, allowing drivers to make the necessary
adjustments.
Ramp metering –
Ramp metering allows cars onto a highway based on
alternating traffic lights. It slows
down the rate of traffic entering a highway but amazingly, that actually speeds
up total flow and reduces accidents.
Cities who use ramp metering report a travel-delay reduction of 29.4
million hours annually and a significant decrease in traffic accidents. However, it’s expensive and time consuming
for cities to add traffic lights and the proper lane set up at every on ramp.
High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes-
HOVL’s, called car pool lanes by the rest of us normal
people, offer a dedicated lane for cars that hold 2 or 3 people, allowing for
faster passage and encouraging ride sharing.
There are also separate lanes or allowances for electric or hybrid
vehicles. According to the 2000 Census,
nearly 81 percent of all commuting workers travel to work in a car, truck or
van. Of that group, nearly 66 percent drove by themselves -- only 14.7 percent
carpooled.
Adding lanes-
Traffic planners carefully study patterns of slow downs and bottlenecks
and identify problem areas, allowing cities to add extra lanes or widen roads
or highways in those spots. Of course,
the ensuing construction slows down traffic…
What are some methods for you to decrease your commute or
make good use of the time?
1. Reduce breakdowns (that cause slowdowns and accidents) by
keeping up maintenance on your car – tire pressure, functional lights, and
brakes.
2. There are plenty of smart phone apps for traffic information
and commuting.
3. Ask your employer if you can adjust your working hours so
they are off-peak for rush hour, like 7-3 pm.
They might even let you work 4 10 hour shifts and avoid the commute one
day a week.
4, Listen to audio books and newspapers, news, and business
periodicals while you drive.
5. Organize you day while you drive by using voice memo
software (or a simple digital recorder) to go over your To Do list.
6. Make a bunch of work calls (or call and say hi to your mom!)
using a hands free device on your phone or in your car.
7. Grab a friend and carpool!
8. Change into comfortable clothes before you leave work- the
drive will be so much more relaxes if you’re in sweat pants and a t-shirt.
9. In order to avoid getting pulled over, studies show you
should stay within 10 mph of the speed limit or with the flow of traffic and
don’t weave in and out of traffic or make sudden movements.
10. Be a good neighbor - let people in and definitely don’t
block the box at intersections!
11. Get a toll pass system so you can fly right through toll
ways without waiting in long lines.
12. Ask your employers if you can telecommute one or two days a
week.
13. Listen to interesting podcasts while you drive.
14. Get an audio version of professional courses, college degree
programs, or second language lessons so you can expand your mind – and you
resume – as you drive.
15. Consider joining a gym near your work, not your home. Every day at 5 pm when others are stressing
in rush hour traffic you can be waiting it out on the treadmill and make the
trip an hour later.
16. When the weather is good, bike to work.
17. Take the train if possible – you can take out your laptop
and get your workday started or finished!
18. Breath deeply – try to relax and think of your commute as
scheduled down time for you to clear your mind and chill.
19. Gas up, get your coffee maker set on timer, etc. the night
before so you won’t be rushed in the morning.
20. Rock out! Build music
playlists exactly the length of your commute, single along, and rotate them
frequently.
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