Submitted by Cedric Hughes on Tue, 07/31/2007 - 11:17
In late March 2007, Vancouver city engineer, Tom Timm, predicted that this summer would be “one of the busiest road construction seasons that we’ll have seen.” He was referring to the thirteen major roadwork projects planned —see www.roadahead.ca for an update on these projects, and more. These projects, combined with ongoing construction of the Canada Line, the 30 high-rise condo projects under way in the downtown Vancouver, increased summer road and building construction activity in all the municipalities and districts of the lower mainland, and tourists—lots of tourists in cars and buses—add up to one of the worst traffic seasons ever.
Although snarled traffic isn’t a new aspect of life in the lower mainland, it seems to be worsening and it seems to be less tolerable in the heat and with so many other possibilities beckoning—an early evening walk in the park with your family or your dog perhaps.
Much has been written about the factors that cause traffic jams, the characteristics of a typical jam, and the possible cures for this modern social problem. Katie Alvord’s popular book, Divorce your Car! published in 2000, advocating alternatives to the car largely for environmental reasons, invites an inquiry into the social impacts of “standing by” your car. What intrigues Road Rules is the social impact of traffic jams or, more generally, of commuting “during rush hour” by whatever mode in a busy urban environment.
Compelling descriptions of commuter stress can be found on the online BBC report, “Commuters suffer extreme stress” about Dr. David Lewis’s finding that “commuters can experience greater stress than fighter pilots going into battle or riot policemen.” Well….maybe).
A “fellow”of the “International Stress Management Association”, Dr. Lewis compared the heart rate and blood pressure of 125 commuters with those of pilots and police officers in training exercises and found the stress levels of commuters were higher in extreme circumstances. Dr. Lewis concluded that commuters’ stress is worsened by their inability to control their situation. He said commuting makes people feel, "frustrated, anxious and despondent," and reports of his work add that this dismal experience “may well have health consequences.”
The Ontario College of Family Physicians agrees. In their publication on the health impacts of urban sprawl they note that where people are forced to drive everywhere, “more time driving means less time with family and friends, less time for oneself, and less time to engage in community activities. Research shows that urban sprawl commuters spend 3 to 4 times more hours driving than individuals living in well-planned, dense communities.”
“Long commutes, increasing traffic delays and long work hours leave people overwhelmed with time demands. Traffic congestion also impairs health, psychological adjustment, work performance and overall satisfaction with life. … Job satisfaction and commitment declines with increased commuting distance on the road….” This publication also notes that traffic jams have “adverse effects on blood pressure, mood, frustration tolerance, illness occasions, work absences, job stability and overall life satisfaction.”
People suffering these problems may not link them to their daily commute.
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