Leave the Driving to Them: Comparing Stress of Car and Train Commuters

Abstract

This paper describes how it has long been theorized that there may be significant health risks for individuals who commute to work by driving in congested conditions. Conversely, it is widely thought that there may be commensurate benefits to individuals who take public transportation. A team of environmental psychologists have collected evidence that for the first time measured significant differences in stress levels among commuters who shifted to new transit services that reduced the number of transfers, and among commuters depending on whether they drove to work or used NJ TRANSIT rail service to New York City. This paper discusses two studies of New York-bound commuters using psychological and physiological indicators of stress in order to determine the effects of switching from a two-seat commuter rail trip to a one-seat ride using NJ TRANSIT’s Midtown Direct and Montclair Direct service. It also presents data on a third study that compared the stress levels of a sample of 122 auto commuters with those of a 164-member sample of rail commuters making similar trips to work. Results from the studies of Midtown Direct and Montclair Direct riders showed significant reductions in stress for those commuters who switched from a two-seat to a one-seat ride. The stress reduction benefit was found to be almost twice as significant for working mothers as compared to all others in the sample. For the study comparing auto and rail commuters, auto commuters showed significantly higher levels of reported stress, more negative mood, indicated the trip was significantly more effort, and felt that their trip was significantly less predictable compared to train commuters.

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