Long daily commutes are par for the course in many regions of Florida, particularly in South Florida. According to data from the Census Bureau, the average commute time in 2011 in Broward County was 27.5 minutes each way. The average in Palm Beach County was 23.9 minutes each way.
According to CNN, long daily commutes put drivers at risk for stress, anxiety and related health conditions. Stressful commutes also can lead to an increase in aggressive driving and instances of road rage, which can cause accidents.
In the interest of promoting good health and wellbeing, no matter the circumstances, we offer these 10 tips for taking the stress out of your daily commute.
1.Switch up your routine – Change the time you leave the house in the morning or the office at night, if your schedule will allow some flexibility. For instance, arriving an hour earlier in the morning and leaving an hour earlier in the afternoon may allow you to skip the morning and evening rush hours.
2.Share the ride – Start an office carpool and share driving responsibilities with coworkers and/or neighbors. You may find that pleasant conversation makes the long drive and traffic jams more bearable and less stressful.
3.Make the most of your time – Listen to that backlog of podcasts you’ve been meaning to catch up on, listen to a book on CD or learn a second language. One caveat: Set up your CD/device before you start driving and turn it off if it’s distracting in any way.
4.Unplug – On the other end of the spectrum, you may use your evening commute as a way to unplug from technology completely. Safely stow away your cell phone, turn off the radio and enjoy the silence.
5.Try a new route – Vary your route as much as possible, switching up major interstates like I-95 and I-595 for surface streets and vice versa. This simple switch-up may keep you from getting burned out on the daily commute.
6. Listen to a calming soundtrack – Create a few playlists for your daily commute and switch them up according to your mood. Upbeat tunes may be good for getting pumped up for Monday morning, while tranquil instrumental music may be better suited for unwinding after a stressful day.
7.Take deep breaths – It’s difficult to remain calm and focused when another driver acts irresponsibly. Take five deep breaths when you feel tension and anger mounting.
8.Relieve tension – Holding a death grip on the steering wheel can cause tension headaches and achy shoulders. Loosen your grip on the wheel and make an effort to relax.
9.Think about things in a new way – Ignore the clock and the trip odometer and try to think of this as time for yourself to unwind and let go of the day’s stresses.
10.Let it go – Feeling angry with a rude driver? Make a conscious effort to laugh it off instead of letting it get to you.
Stay up to date on the latest in automotive safety by signing up for our newsletter or frequenting our blog. Call (855) 529-0269 or complete our online evaluation form to schedule a free case evaluation.
Call or text Chalik & Chalik
(855) 529-0269
Driver Rear-Ends Trooper’s Car Florida, along with forty-two other states, has adopted “move over” laws. These laws were designed to protect police officers and emergency workers as they work on the sides of busy highways and interstates. Florida law states that if it is safe, vehicles should move one lane over from a stopped police car or other emergency...
Florida Is a No-Fault Insurance State: What This Means for You If you are ever injured or someone you love is in a Florida car accident, you will want to make sure that you have adequate insurance coverage. States will vary in what insurance they require of drivers. Florida is a no-fault insurance state, which means that your insurance company steps in and pays your medical...
Latest News: Accident that Kills Nurse Caused by Overworking by the Hospital An Ohio nurse was literally worked to death by her hospital, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by her husband last week. Attorney Jason Chalik says that if the suit succeeds it will revolutionize personal injury and worker protection law. Beth Jasper allegedly worked through breaks during 12-hour shifts and was frequently called in...
Commuting To Work Increases Risks of Vehicle Accidents Nobody likes a long drive to work or back home, especially in traffic on congested freeways. Commuting can affect a drivers’ physical, mental, and emotional state. Unfortunately, many Florida car accidents occur during commute time, as there are more drivers on the road and more aggressive, angry drivers present during this time. When drivers who...
What Is the Average Car Accident Settlement in Florida? Many car accident settlements are confidential. Only the involved parties, including the injured claimant, their legal team, and the liable insurer, know a case’s outcome. While the outcomes of court cases are public record, the outcomes of insurance claims are not. So, no one’s quite sure what the average settlement for a car accident is....
What Are the Main Causes of Car Accidents? The main causes of car accidents in the United States include distracted driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, reckless driving, poor weather conditions, manufacturing defects, poor road conditions, animal crossings, and construction sites. Distracted Driving Although many people think of texting and driving when asked what are the main causes of car...
What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Florida? Five of the most common causes of car accidents in Florida are distracted driving, running a red light or stop sign, not being aware of your surroundings, driving too fast, and driving under the influence. A DUI charge means that you are accused of operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent...
When Are You Required to Report an Auto Accident in Florida? If a car accident occurs and damages a vehicle (or other property) but does not require a police report (see criteria below), the driver of any vehicle involved in the collision must report the accident within the 10 days following the crash. This written report must be provided via a law-enforcement-approved form. When an Auto...