It will come as no surprise to anyone who's had to regularly use Dublin's M50 motorway or Cork's South Ring Road any time recently, but Ireland has some of the worst and longest commuting times anywhere in the world.
Tell us something we don't know…
Yeah, but now it's official. Autotrader, one of the world's biggest names in car sales and advertising, has done a global survey of commuting times, and it makes painful reading for both Ireland's commuters and those tasked with trying to improve the situation.
How bad is it, really?
It's bad. Irish commuters spend nine days, 14 hours and 10 minutes a year driving to and from work, more than a day longer than the global average. We come third in the global rankings, and not in a good sense - only South Africa (on ten days, four hours and 48 minutes) and India (ten days, one hour, and 55 minutes) rank worse than we do on the global commuting table. For reference's sake, South Africa has a population of 64 million. India's population is 1.45 billion(!). Ireland's is 5.6 million…
This is starting to sound horrific…
Well, actually, it's not all bad. While congestion is bad, overall, a high proportion of drivers actually find their commute relaxing, with 82 per cent using it as an opportunity to catch up on podcasts, audiobooks, or music. 47 per cent say it gives them some much-needed alone time, while 32 per cent say that they actually just enjoy driving, so the commute doesn't bother them.
So it's actually OK then?
Maybe not. 34 per cent of all global commuters say that they find the daily drive frustrating, while 84 per cent hate congestion (of course, they ARE the congestion buy anyway…). 30 per cent say that they feel 'drained' at the end of a commute, which is not good for mental health nor for productivity during the working day. Although, productivity isn't a zero-sum game as it turns out… Autotrader partnered with Emily Austen, productivity expert and author of SMARTER: 10 Lessons for a More Productive and Less Stressed Life, who explained: "One of the biggest misconceptions about productivity is that it only counts if you're visibly producing something.” Adding: "We need to match our energy to a task in order to excel. Planning your playlist for the morning means that you are setting an intention for your mood. You're reducing decision-making and any issues for your commute. Reducing decision-making is productive. Protecting your mood is productive. Productivity on your commute doesn't mean working, in fact the 82 per cent of people who spend their commute time listening to music, podcasts and audiobooks are being productive already.”
Austen also said that for those who prefer a more calm, quiet and relaxing commute with no audio distractions: "find time to be present and grateful for the current experience you are having, rather than thinking about the next twenty-four hours. If your commute is the only uninterrupted thinking space in your day, that matters and should be enjoyed.”
So… commuting is good?
Perhaps it would be better to say it's not all bad. And it could be better. According to drivers, when asked what could improve their commute, 65 per cent believe a newer or different car would improve enjoyment. In-car technology (58 per cent) came in second, followed by more comfortable seats (50 per cent) and better fuel efficiency (49 per cent).
Erin Baker, car-selling expert at Autotrader, says, "We often think of commuting in terms of time, but how that time feels is also just as important. Commutes play a huge role in your day-to-day experience, whether that's the stress of sitting in traffic or the simple pleasure of listening to your favourite podcast. But if your current car is adding to your stress, upgrading could make all the difference. If you're considering a change, it may be worth looking at whether your current car is helping or hindering your commute. Selling your car for a newer model won't fix the roads, but improved comfort, efficiency and modern features can make the drive to work feel noticeably easier.”