Do you commute to work every day? These six car-related tips can help you make your commute to and from work safer and easier.
First, find out that you’re not the only one commuting to work. In fact, according to 2016 census data, only 150 million workers out of the 7,500,000 million do their work from home. The rest of US workers commute to and back from their workplaces every day just like you do.
But is there anything you can do to make your commuting experience more comfortable? Absolutely! We have six tips for that:
1. Choose the right car
An easier and more comfortable commute starts with the right vehicle.
As a commuter, there are a few things that matter when you’re purchasing a new vehicle, including gas mileage, safety features, and the car’s overall comfort. So, if you are considering buying a new vehicle which you will be using specifically for commuting, keep these things in mind:
Gas mileage
The cost of fuel used for your everyday commutes is definitely something to take into consideration. However, keep in mind that when you’re assessing fuel-efficiency in cars, there are two types of ratings: driving around town and highway driving. So, make sure you’re comparing mileage based on what your commute is like.
Maintenance
Cars need regular maintenance to keep running smoothly on the road. So, since you’ll be using your new vehicle pretty intensive for commuting, it may need more frequent maintenance to perform at its best. For this reason, you also need to consider maintenance costs.
Safety
Road accidents are a real danger on today’s busy roads. So, safety is an important aspect to take into account when commuting by car. Look for a vehicle that has all the right safety features that will keep you safe on the road, including forward-collision warning systems, blind-spot monitoring, voice controls, stability control systems, airbags, and automatic emergency braking.
Comfort
You’ll likely spend tens of minutes or even hours commuting in your vehicle. So, don’t forget about driver comfort to eliminate the stress of an uncomfortable car.
2. Leave early
In the morning, we get that even a few extra minutes of sleep are awfully tempting, but one of the best ways to survive morning commutes is to leave earlier than others.
How early should you leave for a better commuting experience? Early enough to avoid rush hours and long lines of cars on the road.
Even leaving a few minutes earlier from home or your workplace can save you some nerves. You can never know when there might be some things to make your commute an even stressful experience such as bad traffic, bad weather conditions, a road closure, or even a slow driver in front of the car line that can make your commute longer than normal.
So, leaving by even 5 minutes earlier can make a big difference in your morning or afternoon commute and can save you from so much stress in the long run.
3. Drive better
Driving to work isn’t the only way to commute. Mass transit is also a great option. Yet, if you use your car to get to work and back home, find that you’re not the only one, 85% of commuters drive their own cars to work as well.
Now, if you choose to commute to work by car, you should consider a few things about your driving style, which can save you some money on gas and maintenance and reduce the impact your car has on the environment.
For example, you should drive efficiently to reduce emissions by going easy on the gas and brakes. You should also have your vehicle serviced every once in a while to keep it efficient and to run smoothly.
Another thing you should do is to check your tires to keep them properly inflated. You should also avoid weighting your car down with extra things you don’t need on your trip to and from work.
4. Figure out parking
Finding a parking spot during rush hours is one of the biggest challenges car commuters across the US face every single day. In fact, according to IBM’s Commuter Pain Index, many cities in the US scored really low in terms of the amount of time spent looking for a parking spot, the inability to find a parking place, or disagreements over parking spots. That being said, it’s no wonder that parking pain is a real thing among car commuters across the US.
As the experts from WhereIPark explain, “The rapidly growing number of vehicles and limited parking lots affects commuters on their day-to-day lives. Lack of parking creates congestion and makes car commuters lose several minutes every day to find a parking space.”
So, what you can do to make finding a parking spot easier for you on your daily commutes? You can leave earlier to get to your workplace before the traffic gets really bad or you can rent a parking lot so that you will be sure you have a place to leave your car safely throughout the day.
5. Keep your eyes on the road
Stressed about an early meeting you are heading to? Your boss is already calling you for some tasks that need to be taken care of that day? Forgot to send that early email you had to send to one of your clients? None of these matters when you are on the road driving.
If you didn’t know, cell phones cause about as many road accidents as speeding. In fact, data shows that every day, nine Americans die due to distracted driving accidents.
So, when commuting, keep your eyes on the road and let other distractions for the moment you get to work.
6. Use the right tools
Today, driving experiences can be a lot easier and more enjoyable thanks to technology.
Want a more fun ride to work? Use your car’s infotainment features to listen to music or a nice podcast session.
Want to know what to expect on the road? Use traffic apps like Google Maps or Waze, or other similar apps that provide traffic updates and travel times.
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