Driving to Work Is Officially Ruining Your Life
If you’re someone who drives to work every day and find yourself feeling grumpy or blue about life in general, it may be time to ditch the steering wheel.
A British study tracked 17,000 commuter surveys over a period of 18 years and found that those who did not drive to work did better when it came to their mental well-being. Drivers who switched from driving to walking or biking started answering questions like “Do you enjoy living in your neighborhood?” with positive answers instead of negatives. Even those who took the bus instead of driving tended towards positive outlooks.
"One of the main messages [of the study] is because it’s about travel to work, which everyone does, if only we could persuade a small proportion of them to make that switch, there would be a massive improvement of well-being at a national level," the study's lead author, Adam Martin, explained to Fast Company's Co.Exist blog.
The findings are consistent with other studies that have found the stresses from being on the road can be detrimental to the person behind the wheel. One such study conducted in the UK over a 50-year period found that bus drivers are liable to suffer from physical, mental and substance abuse issues due to the ergonomic issues of driving combined with sitting in traffic, dealing with violent drivers, and frequently rotating shifts, among others.
In order to combat the aggression and stresses related to driving, some are looking towards creating a better driving environment. Peugeot Citroen’s “Chrysalide” is one such concept which seeks to make the entire driving experience more serene by engaging all of the senses in what they call a “holistic” approach. The Chrysalide interior relies on a facial recognition camera system which can detect anger, stress, or fatigue in drivers and will respond in kind by offering soothing or energizing scents, sounds, and tactile elements. The cabin also uses an air purifier which allows the driver to breathe fresh air, even with the windows up.
Until, however, drivers are all able to get along and we can all afford to drive luxurious cars that make our stresses melt away, taking the bus or train to work isn’t all that bad. You could start reading again, watch a movie, or even catch a little free entertainment to start your morning off right.
[Pic via Flickr - epSos.de]
