[sustran] Bus travel ‘a third less stressful than the car’ Traffic congestion now outweighs benefits of private car

[Vinay Baindur]

http://www.greenerjourneys.com/2010/09/1079/


Bus travel ‘a third less stressful than the car’Posted September 20th,
2010. Leave a Comment
<http://www.greenerjourneys.com/2010/09/1079/#comments>

*Taking the bus rather than the car can reduce mental stress by a third,
according to new research.*

   - New research reveals hidden long-term mental health impact from driving
   - Traffic congestion now outweighs benefits of private car
   - National campaign to shift 1 billion car journeys to bus by 2014

The study by Dr David Lewis from The University of Sussex, who coined the
term “road rage”, found that motorists face a hidden mental health impact
from the stresses of driving, while bus travel can produce long-term health
benefits.

The finding were revealed as Greener Journeys, a coalition of the UK’s
major bus companies, launched a national campaign to shift a billion car
journeys to the bus by 2014, saving 2 million tonnes of CO2. The first
stage of the campaign will target Milton Keynes, Norwich and Exeter.

For the experiment, the heart rate and EDR (Electro-Dermal Response) of 30
commuters was measured when taking similar journeys by car and bus. The
findings reveal a vast difference in EDR, a form of biophysical measurement
that Dr Lewis describes as an excellent indicator of mental stress.

When examining the EDR results, the experiment found that taking the car
produced significantly greater amounts of stress than taking the bus, which
was 33% less stressful.

“EDR can be a hidden stress ? it’s not as visible as ‘white knuckle
driving’ or audible as road rage. This type of stress can have long-term
physiological and emotional implications. Boarding a bus can produce
significant long-term health benefits,” said Dr Lewis.

In addition to the biophysical data, the subjects were asked to rank their
stress levels for each trip with 93% saying they found driving more
stressful. Most of them, Dr Lewis says, rarely used the bus yet said they
found the bus journey to be the least stressful.

Claire Haigh, spokesperson for Greener Journeys says the chance to reduce
stress might be a tipping point for commuters who are already concerned
about the high levels of CO2 pollution produced by cars – often occupied
only by the driver.

*“A survey found a fifth of motorists would be prepared to swap to public
transport for reasons to do with the environment. Just one double-decker
bus can take 75 cars off the road considerably reducing emissions levels,”
said Ms Haigh.*

Dr David Lewis says there are three key factors that reduce the attraction
and increase the stresses of driving a car.

   1. Driving in heavy traffic, especially against a deadlin, requires a
   high level of vigilance, even for experienced motorists. This requires the
   brain to work especially hard processing a myriad of incoming information
   and making, often split-second, decisions.
   2. Congestion and delays can raise blood pressure and physical tension
   which may manifest itself as ‘road rage’, a term coined by Dr Lewis in 1985
   to describe the explosive outbursts of anger shown by some motorists.
   Increases in blood pressure can have serious long-term health consequences
   as well as causing drivers sometimes to take reckless and foolish decisions
   behind the wheel.
   3. A sense of frustration of ‘wasting one’s life’ behind the wheel of
   the car, unable to do anything more productive than casual conversations or
   listening to the radio. On a bus it is possible to fill the time more
   profitably by doing some work or reading.

He also notes that highly trained, professional bus drivers are skilled in
negotiating the challenges of the road, and the relief of trusting someone
else to be in charge of the journey, is a key part of what makes taking the
bus less stressful.

“This study shows that driving in congested traffic, now outweighs any
previous benefits that driving in a private car once gave,” said Dr Lewis.

Ms Haigh says the Greener Journeys campaign encourages people to get out of
their cars and on to the bus for trips where it makes sense – such as
shopping in town, heading to a restaurant or pub or going to the movies.

“For these trips taking the bus means you don’t need to battle traffic,
find parking and pay for it. Switching simple journeys can help achieve our
goal of taking a billion car journeys off the road. All it will take is
everyone shifting around a trip a month.”

To mark its commitment to getting Britons out of their cars Greener
Journeys is giving away a million free bus trips to encourage consumers to
get on board.

The Greener Journeys consumer campaign launches nationwide today with
additional local activity being piloted in Milton Keynes, Norwich and
Exeter. The coalition includes major operators including Arriva,
FirstGroup, National Express and Stagecoach.

For further information, and for your chance to win ten free bus tickets,
go to www.greenerjourneys.com. There are 100,000 carnets of ten tickets to
be won.

*-ends-*

To view a two minute video of the story?click here
<mms://groovyg.edgestreams.net/groovyg/clients/Markettiers4dc/videofeature/14619/v2/14619_greener_journeys_vf_169_v2_500k_169.wmv>

*View the video news release*

*Notes to Editors*

Greener Journeys is a member of The Climate Clinic – a coalition of the
leading environment and development organisations demanding political
action on climate change. Other members include WWF, Greenpeace and Unicef.
Climate Clinic is running a series of Fringe events at the party conference
this year. Transport forms one of these events where there will be a robust
discussion on transport and bus travel to ensure politicians are fully
engaged with the issue.

Greener Journeys is working with government and local authorities to
accelerate the adoption of a range of pro bus and coach policies that will
make it easier for people to make sustainable transport choices. For
example, it is calling on government to allow bus season tickets and travel
cards to be paid for out of people’s pre tax income and to encourage salary
sacrifice schemes. Greener Journeys is also seeking better priority
measures for bus and coaches, and more support for park and ride schemes,
which have a proven track record in encouraging greener travel by bus.
<http://www.greenerjourneys.com/2010/09/1079/#>
One Response to Bus travel ‘a third less stressful than the car’

   1. Christopher Hannant says: July 21, 2014 at 1:17 pm
   <http://www.greenerjourneys.com/2010/09/1079/#comment-105654>

   I use the bus daily, been a commuter for 5 yrs, in that time the bus
   journey now takes 2 hrs from Christchurch to Poole..in the car it takes 45
   minutes. In summer busses are packed no air conditioning ..it’s held up by
   people paying cash, old people taking their seats, more bus stops being
   placed within walking distances have lengthened bus times. It’s a nonsense
   to say bus travel is less stressful if anything it’s more so, the train
   might be faster 10 minutes to Poole but it’s expensive, more Xroutes from
   Christchurch to Poole should be introduced for commuters who work in the
   conerbations