Commuting to work is a necessary part of life for many. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that in 2019 the average person had a one-way commute time of 27.6 minutes, almost half an hour.
Like other drivers, commuters are vulnerable to vehicular accidents. There are many reasons individuals may find themselves involved in a wreck on their way to or from work.
The path to and from the workplace may become so ingrained in a person’s muscle memory that they zone out, no longer needing to consciously focus to find their way there. Since they know it so well, they may also feel more relaxed and comfortable doing activities such as talking on their mobile phones while driving. If it is in the morning or late evening, they may divert their attention by gulping down coffee and eating. Looking away to pick up a drink or change the radio station or accidentally spilling liquid takes up only seconds but may result in a crash.
Those in a hurry often disregard regulations. In the rush to avoid being late, they may run red lights or stop signs and exceed the speed limit. Frustrated tailgating of motor operators driving at or below the limit is a common cause of rear-end accidents.
In the same vein, individuals trying to reach the workplace on time may drive recklessly. This includes swerving in and out of lanes and rapidly accelerating to make a yellow light. This behavior is doubly dangerous in severe weather conditions (another cause of wrecks) and heavy traffic.
Avoiding distractions and driving cautiously may help commuters avoid a traffic incident, a potential personal injury, and even more of a delay in their day.
