Benefits September 28, 2006

Road Rage Common During Office Commute

September 28, 2006 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Nearly 60% of workers experience some level of road rage when they are driving to work, according to a recent survey.
Reported by

The survey of 2,200 workers by CareerBuilder.com found that, while 59% of respondents said they experience some level of road rage while commuting to work, one in 10 reported they usually or always experience road rage during their commute, according to a press release. More women (60%) than men (57%) reported experiencing road rage, the release said.

However, the survey also found that as driving times to work decrease, so does the likelihood that a worker feels road rage during their commute. Thirty percent of workers with a commute of less than five minutes said they experience road rage on occasion, and 42% of workers with a commute of less than 10 minutes said the same.

“A frustrating commute can set a negative tone for the day, sometimes impacting productivity and employee or client relations,” said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder.com, in the release.

Haefner offered the following suggestions:

  • Leave a few minutes early to give extra time in case of heavy traffic, bad weather, train crossings and other morning disasters.
  • Do not take things personally. People who hit the brakes without apparent reason, drive well below the speed limit, daydream, or sit still while other cars are moving, are usually just bad drivers, not vengeful.
  • Get good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast to feel refreshed and ready to take on rush hour.
  • Listen to soothing music or books on tape on the way to work.
  • Take a few deep breaths when feeling the urge to rage.

«