The great American commute

It’s not surprising that Americans are working more hours than ever. They are also spending more time commuting, which can lead to more stress on drivers.

The 2015 Census found the average American’s commute went up 24 seconds over the year before, to 26.4 minutes. That means drivers will lose more than three hours a year due to increased commute time.

As you might suspect, people are traveling greater distances for jobs. That includes workers with 45-minute and hour-long commutes. Those who used to spend an hour or more on the road now find themselves spending even more time on the road. The percentage of workers with commutes of 10 minutes or fewer saw a decrease.

More time on the road also translates into more risk. Case and point: Fatalities on America’s roads have increased since 2014. Perhaps most concerning is the fact that last year, for the first time, crash fatalities rose above 40,000 in over a decade.

More time on the road also correlates with poor mood and outlook. A 2014 study found people who had long car commutes experienced greater levels of dissatisfaction than those who walked or biked to work.

While we can’t change your commuting situation, we want to remind you that buckling up, avoiding texting and driving and driving alert are simple ways to make your drive a little safer.