Drive Alone to Work - Female in Virginia

Virginia

Commuting is a daily necessity for many people, and driving alone is the most common mode of transportation to work in the United States. Driving is associated with several environmental and individual health concerns: Motor vehicles contribute to air pollution, noise pollution, and, in many cases, transportation congestion. Congestion, a common occurrence in large cities, creates concentrated areas of air and noise pollution that disproportionately affect those with lower socioeconomic status. Commutes greater than 15 miles can also increase the risk of high blood pressure, obesity and physical inactivity.

After housing expenses, vehicle maintenance (including purchase, upkeep and operation) represents the second-largest expenditure for the average American household. By using public transportation and reducing the number of privately-owned vehicles, a household can save about $13,000 a year. Additionally, switching from driving alone to using public transit to commute can reduce an individual's CO2 emissions by 20 pounds per day — more than 48,000 pounds per year. 

However, 45% of Americans have no access to public transportation, making this an important area for public health and policy interventions. Studies have shown that improved public transportation access can increase employment opportunities, expand overall economic activity and decrease the amount of money households spend on transportation, in addition to the health and environmental benefits.

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of driving alone to work is higher among males compared with females. Other populations that spend more time driving alone to work include:

• White workers compared with Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native and Asian workers.
• Workers ages 25-44.
• Workers born in the U.S. compared with those who were born in other countries.
• Workers with an income at or above 150% of the poverty level compared with those with lower incomes.

Strategies to promote modes of transportation other than driving, particularly driving alone, include:

• Increasing flexibility to work from home.
• City planning to balance out the geographic distribution of places of employment.
• Building pedestrian- and cycling-friendly infrastructure.
• Increasing access and reducing the distance to public transportation.
• Encouraging local health departments and health care providers to raise awareness of the health issues associated with driving alone for long commutes.

Healthy People 2030 has multiple objectives related to transportation, including:

• Increasing trips to work made by mass transit. 
• Increasing the proportion of adults who walk or bike to get places.

Abrams, Zara. “The Future of Remote Work.” Monitor on Psychology 50, no. 9 (October 1, 2019). https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/10/cover-remote-work.

Giles-Corti, Billie, Anne Vernez-Moudon, Rodrigo Reis, Gavin Turrell, Andrew L. Dannenberg, Hannah Badland, Sarah Foster, et al. “City Planning and Population Health: A Global Challenge.” The Lancet 388, no. 10062 (December 2016): 2912–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30066-6.

Henning-Smith, Carrie, Katy Kozhimannil, and Alex Evenson. Addressing Commuting as a Public Health Issue: Strategies Should Differ by Rurality. Policy Brief. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, July 2018. https://rhrc.umn.edu/publication/addressing-commuting-as-a-public-health-issue-strategies-should-differ-by-rurality/.

Hoehner, Christine M., Carolyn E. Barlow, Peg Allen, and Mario Schootman. “Commuting Distance, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Metabolic Risk.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 42, no. 6 (June 2012): 571–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2012.02.020.

Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J. “Urban and Transport Planning, Environmental Exposures and Health-New Concepts, Methods and Tools to Improve Health in Cities.” Environmental Health 15 (December 2016): S38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-016-0108-1.

van Schalkwyk, M. C. I., and J. S. Mindell. “Current Issues in the Impacts of Transport on Health.” British Medical Bulletin 125, no. 1 (March 1, 2018): 67–77.https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldx048.