# data[].attributes.headline
Do we need education to strenghten our psychology in the traffic? 

# data[].attributes.subject
Do we need education to strenghten our psychology in the traffic? 

# data[].attributes.body
There’s a field called traffic psychology that studies about the behaviours of road drivers and the reasons of these behaviours. They support that driving education can be completed with this. Accidents can be avoided by educating not only the physical skills but also emotions and thinking styles of drivers.

# data[].attributes.headline
What are the different ideas to improve transportation?

# data[].attributes.subject
What are the different ideas to improve transportation?

# data[].attributes.body
There are lots of different ideas but threeof them attracked my attention. An engineer from San F. Says that we should ban cars from busy areas of cities. A manager offers to design streets for specific transportation modes. Another suggestion is paying money for the road distance that the drivers use.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Mark Peterson/Redux Pictures for Politico Magazine

Emily Goldberg is an engagement editor at POLITICO.

Cities across the country are coming up with innovative solutions to improve transportation. Seattle invested heavily in public transit, and The city managed to grow its population and decrease its car traffic at the same time. New York will achieve a historic first by becoming the first American city to implement congestion pricing - charging vehicles to drive into the busiest parts of the city. San Francisco is going as far as to close off part of one of its busiest streets to traffic completely.

In our first What Works package of 2019 we detailed some big changes that are already in the works. But how else can cities make transportation better? More than 250 POLITICO readers dreamed big and shared their ideas on how they'd improve transportation if anything were possible. Here's 13 of those ideas, lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Increase opportunities for telecommuting

Story Continued Below

"Create incentives for companies to give employees the option to work from home. The incentives can be in the form of tax breaks to those companies. Less people on the road means less traffic."
- Meghan Rose Hargreaves, technical writer, Hollywood, Fla.

Experiment with banning cars from the busiest parts of the city

"I would like to see Open Streets days where the downtown is mostly shut off to cars, every Saturday and Sunday. Open Streets allows people to see their city in a way they may have never previously considered, which over time makes many more people open to using transit or bicycles."
- Christopher Gillespie, marketing manager at CMG Financial, Philadelphia

... or charge drivers to go there

"For years, cities and states have tried to build their way out of congestion by adding more lanes of road, but the more road space that is added, the more cars fill the available space. To tackle this issue at its core, we would implement broad-based road pricing in places with viable transit alternatives by charging a fee for all vehicles. When all car users pay a price for their travel, people are incentivized to share space more efficiently."
- Brenden Dooley, senior policy associate at Uber, Washington, D.C.

... or just ban cars outright

"Ban all private cars from the city. Allow businesses to apply for permits (with an annual fee) for delivery vehicles, etc., but otherwise city streets should be reserved for public transit like buses, and green transportation like bikes, scooters and pedestrians.
- Charles Whitfield, software engineer, San Francisco

Build a hyperloop

"The last major push we had in the U.S. was the interstate in 1956. The idea that what worked in the '50s will solve the problems of today is absurd. A hyperloop can reach speeds up to 670 mph, carry 16,000 passengers per hour in each direction and connect distant cities in the same way that intracity metros connect neighborhoods."
- Jay Walder, CEO of Virgin Hyperloop One, Los Angeles

Make public transit a human right

"I would create universal basic mobility, giving everyone in the city access to safe, reliable, frequent transportation as a human right. In addition to guaranteeing a train or bus arrives on time, feels safe and looks clean, the city would be obligated to create transportation choices that treat people with dignity. If we get our priorities straight, big disruptions in transportation create an opportunity to more dynamically provide quality transportation choices that also bring happiness to our communities."
- Seleta Reynolds, Los Angeles Department of Transportation general manager, Los Angeles

... or charge based on income

"Institute a single payer universal mobility scheme for Southern Vancouver Island. Almost everyone would pay via income taxes and lower-income households would get free access. This would help reduce the squeeze on lower-income families in what is a hugely expensive place to live."
- Samuel Holland, student, Victoria, British Columbia

... or make it free for all

"When transit is free and driving costs money, many more people will ride. Along with that increased ridership will come a public desire for higher quality transit service. Just as drivers want pothole-free roads and accessible sidewalks in good repair, so will transit riders want more comfortable and convenient transit service in good repair, and they will vote to fund the maintenance and improvement."
- Robin Gold, bus operations analyst at Sound Transit, Seattle

End sexual harassment on public transit

"Sexual harassment on public transit is a serious disincentive, especially for women and gender nonconforming people. Eliminating sexual harassment on public transit would increase the frequency and consistency of ridership, which would in turn lead to less traffic, higher revenue for public transportation organizations, and more widespread public buy-in for public transit."
- Kate Hilts, digital strategist, Washington, D.C.

Digitize curb access

"In my dream world, curbs in every city would be fully digitized and updating in real time. Just as you filter airlines, dates and times when booking travel, with fully digitized curbs, transportation providers would be able to find, reserve and pay for access to curb space based on convenience, size, duration, price and amenities like charging stations."
- Stephen Smyth, CEO and co-founder of Coord, New York

Power traffic lights with artificial intelligence

"Update all traffic signals in the United States to include a 21st century traffic signal architecture. The system would allow for traffic lights to be coordinated to keep traffic flows moving, reduce idling, eliminate car pollution from idling and additional commute times and allow for a system that can use artificial intelligence to adjust signals based on real-time data."
- Mike Cunnington, constituent services rep for Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, Strongsville, Ohio

Separate different forms of transportation on different streets

"Designate streets for each mode of transportation. This would include moving cars to the major arteries, creating transit spines on the busiest streets and providing a dense network of streets for the most efficient mode: bikes and scooters. By tailoring each street to the speed and vulnerability of that mode, we can circumvent the dangers of mixing fast moving, loud, emissions-spewing cars with bikes and pedestrians."
- Willa Ng, director of mobility for Sidewalk Labs, New York

Encourage scooter and motorcycle use instead of cars

"The best congestion reduction technique for New York City would be to incentivize motorcycles and motor scooters. Light weight, fuel efficient two-wheeled vehicles reduce traffic, take up a fraction of the space of a car when parked, and reduce wear and tear on urban infrastructure. Two-wheeled vehicles should receive a 100% exemption from congestion based tolling, as well as free parking throughout the NYC area."
- Cheryl Stewart, founder of Riders Against Congestion, New York

This article tagged under:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
13 Big Ideas to Improve Transportation in Your City

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Emily Goldberg is an engagement editor at POLITICO. Cities across the country are coming up with innovative solutions to improve transportation. Seattle invested heavily in public transit, and The city managed to grow its population and decrease its car traffic at the same time.

# data[].attributes.headline
Which cities have the best ways to deal with the traffic? 

# data[].attributes.subject
Which cities have the best ways to deal with the traffic? 

# data[].attributes.body
In China, there are bike-sharing programmes which can be used by cash or smart cards. Also, in Hong-Kong, there are Public Light Buses which are faster and have non-stop service for long distances.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Cities that are experiencing rapid growth face a variety of challenges, as they expand and become increasingly complex. Traffic is one of the most significant challenges: congested roads are a strain on the environment, the economy and the overall quality of life. Finding smart ways to keep cities growing is crucial to our increasingly urban future. The Forum's new report, The Future of Urban Development Initiative: Dalian and Zhangjiakou Champion City Strategy, collects solutions from around the world that tackle pollution and other urbanization issues.
1. Stockholm: Electronic Road Pricing
Stockholm's electronic road pricing scheme charges motorists for entering the central city on weekdays, between 06.30 and 18.30. Exemptions apply to buses, taxis, eco-fuel cars, emergency vehicles and drivers coming and going from the isolated island of Lidingö. During the first two years, peak-period traffic volumes within the tolling zone fell by 25% (removing 1 million vehicles from the road a day), and daily toll revenues reached about $300,000. The revenues from congestion tolls have been used to improve other transport and transit services.
2. Barcelona: Urban Lab - Dynamic Traffic Forecasting
Parking management and traffic control cameras are two aspects that Barcelona has tried to improve urban mobility with smart technology. The sensors at parking spots and video with analytics provide real-time data on parking availability, which are transmitted through the city's WiFi infrastructure, linking devices belonging the end user and local authorities. Traffic control cameras are connected by fibre optics to the transport authority to monitor traffic in real time, providing the control centre means to increase or reduce the frequency of green lights according to the traffic conditions.
3. London: Electronic Journey Planner
Transport for London's online journey planner provides instant advice on routes in the UK capital, with users able to opt for multiple modes of transport, including walking, tube train, bus, overground train, river transport and bicycle. The key to the success of the integrated journey planner is the willingness of operators to share information and to provide it to the general public. Further mobile versions of the journey planner was developed by private mobile application developers, providing the same experience on the move with the added bonus of GPS tracking, taxi booking and real-time traffic monitoring, giving greater freedom for commuters to choose between modes of transport.
4. Hong Kong: Public Light Bus
Public Light Buses (PLBs), known as mini-buses, complement the standard Hong Kong bus lines, serving areas that are hard to reach efficiently. With the carrying capacity of 16 seats, PLBs are typically faster and more efficient with higher frequency and offer non-stop service. Mini-buses can respond quickly to market demands and provide a more direct, comfortable route for the "last mile". It is a solution to overcome the "last mile" issue, and a solution to regulating illegal transport in megacities.
5. Copenhagen: Integrative Public Transport Model
The Danish capital's integrative system aims to avoid or mitigate traffic congestion. It brings together three transport operators plus information links to agencies, companies and the government. The integrative ticketing system provides ease in ticketing via smart phone application or SMS, providing easy information about location, destination and tickets. It gives users greater flexibility and efficiency when boarding and transferring to different mode of transport.

A combination of bus stops and cycle parking facilities with metro stations ensures seamless integration of all modes of public transport in Copenhagen. A bus priority signalling system through the use of radio and

GPS technology enables bus priority on the road, shortening travelling time.

The reduction in car use has already resulted in an 83% drop in CO2 emissions. Additional social benefits such as the encouragement of cycling through the integrated cycling facilities have led to 63% of all journeys to work to be made by bicycle. This has further contributed to Copenhagen's cycling initiative "Greenwave", and has reduced CO2 emissions by 90,000 tonnes annually.
6. Hangzhou: Public Cycling System
The Chinese city of Hangzhou has one of the world's largest public bike-sharing programmes. The city boasts 67,000 public bikes with 3,000 service points, and had an average daily renting volume of 230,000 bikes in June 2013. One reason for the popularity of the system is its ease of use. Bikes can be rented using either a smart card that can also be used for other types of public transport, or with a cash deposit paid by non-local travellers who do not have a smart card. The convenience of the bike-renting system has proved popular for daily transport and also, in particular, for travelling between different public transport services.

Two keys to success of the system have been its integration with tourism in the city - the service has become a popular activity for tourists - and the innovative bundling of advertisement rights to generate revenue.
7. United Kingdom: Active Traffic Management Approach
To tackle the extremely variable traffic flow of the M42, which handles over 120,000 vehicles per day, an active traffic management (ATM) system was piloted in November 2005. This acted as a test-bed to develop a fully flexible, controlled motorway. Variable Message Signs (VMS) are displayed over each lane to allow the speed and lane use to be varied, and specifically to manage traffic flow and lane use at peak times and in response to traffic incidents to combat congestion. During peak hours, speed limits can be reduced using the VMS, so increasing the carrying capacity of the road. The further option of creating new lanes is also available by the temporary opening of hard shoulders to traffic. ATM will also alert drivers of congestion and incidents ahead, giving motorists time to choose alternative routes.

The overall system was developed for five times less than the cost of a conventional widening of the motorway according to the Automobile Association. Emissions from vehicles also fell by 10% due to the traffic's faster travelling speeds and lower fuel consumption due to less gear changing. Although ATM may not be suitable for all highways, it can offer a cost-effective method to tackle congestion for more developed road systems.
Author: By Roland Wong, Assistant Urban Designer, Arup Image: Vehicles move on the Guomao Bridge in Beijing. REUTERS/Jason Lee

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Seven ways cities around the world are tackling traffic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation in 1971, and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Forum is tied to no political, partisan or national interests.

# data[].attributes.body
Do we need education to strenghten our psychology in the traffic?

# data[].attributes.body
What are the different ideas to improve transportation?

# data[].attributes.body
Which cities have the best ways to deal with the traffic?

# data[].attributes.body
Traffic makes us more angry and we make arguments with people who we don’t even know.

# data[].attributes.body
Because of the traffic we waste a lot of time.

# data[].attributes.body
Traffic causes air pollution and it affects our health.

# data[].attributes.headline
Which country has the most car accidents? 

# data[].attributes.subject
Which country has the most car accidents? 

# data[].attributes.body
According to World Atlas, Libya has the most car accidents in the world, with 73.4 car accidents per a hundred thousand inhabitants.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Around 3,000 car accidents occur every day around the world. Alcohol and other drugs are found to be a contributing cause in up to 22% of vehicular accidents on the world's highways and byways. Automobile-related deaths rank as the 11th most common cause of death in many places, particularly developing countries, with young people in the age groups from 5 to 24 years old possessing the highest risks. At a rate of 73.4 deaths per 100,000 people, Libya by far has the highest incidence of car accidents anywhere in the world. Libya experiences the most car accidents in the world, with 73.4 car accidents per 100,000 inhabitants.

Public Transport Affords Little Safety in Many Places

Low and middle-income countries have less than half of the world's vehicles. Nonetheless, they contribute to over 90% of the total number of road traffic deaths. Their poorly maintained road networks and lack of resources to enforce road safety laws and medical assistance are major factors. Contrarily, the countries with the lowest rates of road accident deaths are chiefly the high-income countries that possess the necessary resources to maintain their roads at a high standard and enforce stricter road usage laws. In such countries, public transport systems are applauded for their safety records. However, in some lower-income countries, public transport vehicles are believed to be among the main causes of vehicular deaths. In Nigeria and Kenya, for example, public transport providers are known to fill up their cabins well past safe capacities, while exceeding the speed limits along their routes. They often exhibit open contempt for the rules of the road by using vehicles that are far from adequately suited to be on the road.

Low-Priced Cars, High-Priced Risks

The majority of the vehicles sold in low and middle-income countries are not able to meet basic road safety standards that approach global norms. Regulations within these countries that define what makes a vehicle roadworthy are lax, making them ideal dumping grounds for old vehicles. From there, locals often take advantage of the low costs associated with importing old vehicles that barely run and pose public health risks for their personal use. Reducing the number of car users in these countries would go a long way in reducing the road accident deaths per capita. This will be hard though, considering that only 33% of countries around the world have active policies that encourage people to walk or cycle as an alternative to driving, and limited resources will make it difficult to pass and implement policies of their own.

Dangers to Pedestrians and Cyclists

Half of the people killed in road accidents are pedestrians, cyclists, or operators of two-wheeled vehicles. They are referred to as "vulnerable road users." In the Americas, the proportion of motorcycle deaths rose to 20% from 15% between 2010 and 2013, and in South-East Asia and the Pacific regions, the proportion is as high as 33%. Vulnerable road users are especially at risk in countries where their needs are not taken into consideration during the design phases of road construction projects. "Zebra crossings" are few and far between in places where vulnerable users are not considered, and bike lanes are almost non-existent. The problem is compounded by the fact that governments take little initiative when it comes to reducing automobile congestion on their roads.

The Necessity of Globalized Efforts

At a conference held in Brasilia, officials from transport as well as health departments from the governments of numerous countries came together to discuss global road safety issues, and the pressing need to take action to achieve the road safety goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. There, they discussed the passing of new laws to curb the high number of road accident deaths based on practices involving seat belt use, speed restrictions, motorcycle helmets, and child restraints. This will not be enough, however, if countries fail to act on their promises and enforce their mandates. Improvements in public transport systems will go a long way in making it safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike who share our planet's roads. Developing countries do not deserve all the blame, as even in developed countries many motorists fail to realize that the road is for all users, not just for people driving cars. Many perceive traffic laws more as nuisances than as hard-set rules to live and drive-by.

Libya experiences the most car accidents in the world, with 73.4 car accidents per 100,000 inhabitants.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Around 3,000 car accidents occur every day around the world. Alcohol and other drugs are found to be a contributing cause in up to 22% of vehicular accidents on the world's highways and byways.

# data[].attributes.headline
If we make public transportation free can we decrease traffic problems?

# data[].attributes.subject
If we make public transportation free can we decrease traffic problems?

# data[].attributes.body
We can't decrease traffic by making public transportation free because according to  research most of the people who use cars don't prefer it even if it's free. It's still used by people who use transportation and they even use it for walking distance places.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Under pressure from the European Union to tackle its air deadly air pollution, the German government is considering making public transport free in its most polluted cities. Few cities have attempted such a scheme - with the notable exception of Tallinn. We asked transport expert Oded Cats, who authored an in-depth study on Tallinn's fare-free scheme, whether Germany can reduce pollution by emulating the Estonian capital.
DW: Why did Tallinn introduce fare-free transport - and was it effective?

Cats says there's no evidence free transport cuts car use

Oded Cats: The aims were to promote public transport, to reduce car traffic, and especially to improve mobility for low income and unemployed groups. The latter, I think, we can consider has been achieved. So we do see that a lot of people from low income groups, the unemployed, do travel more frequently.

When it comes to shifting into public transport, we saw an immediate effect, which was fairly small. But about a year or two years after it was introduced, we saw a more long-standing effect: a roughly 14 percent increase in public transport [users] - a large share of which is coming from people who used to walk. So it's questionable whether this is desirable.

If you can take public transport for free you may substitute the short trip you used to walk for public transport. Most of the increase in public transport ridership stems from either people who walked previously, or previous transport users who travel more frequently or perform longer trips. Only a small part of those additional trips come from people who also used the car. So we cannot say that there was a net gain in terms of reducing car traffic, or the congestion and emissions associated with it.
Why didn't the scheme attract more drivers?
We know from many other places where people have experimented with short-term campaigns of free public transport that price is seldom the reason that you choose car over public transport. We see that choices of which mode to use are much more to do with service qualities. So for example, if this investment is made in increasing frequency rather than reducing the prices you're much more likely to gain new customers.
So what should Germany be doing to get drivers to make the switch?

Blue skies over Tallinn? Residents of Estonia's capital enjoy free rides, but perhaps not cleaner air

Not only from Tallinn, but also from a lot of other places we have a large amount of evidence that what is most effective is to increase the price of using your car - and specifically things that relate to using it per trip, like fuel and congestion taxing - as well as parking. Things that are really attached to you using your car, not owning one. Making sure that drivers pay for what we call the externalities - undesired effects - that car traffic causes, namely air pollution and congestion. And this you do via parking charges, via congestion charging, fuel taxes. And only when drivers encounter the real cost of the choice they make, they can make a more informed decision. And you do this while having a very competitive alternative in the form of public transport.
What can we learn from other free public transport schemes around the world?
Most of these schemes are taking place in Europe, and also mostly in small towns, which are quite particular user groups. Some of these towns report tremendous increases in the number of riders. When you look closely into the data, you see that these numbers are very small and there was also a simultaneous increase in the supply offered. So instead of having two buses a day you have ten buses, and then your report a 100-percent increase. So we don't see evidence of a large effect from this.

Air pollution exceeds legal limits in many European cities and is a major public health concern

There are several cities, the most well-known of which is Hasselt in Belgium, which had it for many years and had to change back to charging users because it was not financially sustainable. They found it quite a painful choice to make to reintroduce charges to make the system viable again.

How did Tallinn - a city of half a million people - cope with the cost?

In Estonia local taxes are attached to the place of residence. And then there was a sizable group of people living in Tallinn that was still registered as residing in other towns in Estonia, and this was a lost tax income for the city. This was a way also to appeal to these people to register in Tallinn because you're eligible for people transport entirely but only if you're registered as a resident. So effectively, by attracting this additional tax income they could cover the costs of the lost income from public transport tickets.
Oded Cats is assistant professor of transport and planning at Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands, and part-time researcher at the Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden. His research focuses on the intersection of transport networks, operations, policy and travel behavior. He is also associate editor of the European Journal of Transport and Infrastructure Research (EJTIR), and a member of the editorial board of Journal of Public Transportation and Journal of Urban Rail Transit. This interview has been edited for clarity.

Europe's battle against deadly air pollution

Cutting back on diesel

Germany has launched a scheme to retrofit its diesel public buses with exhaust-scrubbing systems, and introduce charging points to encourage drivers to switch to e-cars. Still, environmentalists say that's not enough. They want all diesel vehicles - including private cars - retrofitted, or taken off the road.

Europe's battle against deadly air pollution

Taking cars off streets

Milan, one of Italy's most polluted cities, has banned cars from its downtown area during certain hours. Other cities in Italy and abroad have experimented with similar schemes, for example permitting only cars with odd or even license plates on the road at given times in order to limit the amount of traffic.

Europe's battle against deadly air pollution

Free public transport

The Macedonian capital of Skopje is battling with pollution levels up to 15 higher than permitted by the EU - though it's not yet a member state, so isn't facing fines. Macedonia's smog problem is largely down to burning coal and emissions from aging, inefficient industry and vehicles. To get people to leave their dirty old cars at home, the government has introduced free public transport.

Europe's battle against deadly air pollution

Sounding the alarm

One street in London exceeded the EU's annual nitrogen dioxide limit on January 30 - less than a month into 2018. Actually, this is an improvement - it's the first time in a decade the British capital has kept within the annual limit for more than six days. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced he wants to alert the city's schools on days when pollution is particularly bad.

Author: Sarah Steffen

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Can free public transport really reduce pollution? | DW | 14.02.2018

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Under pressure from the European Union to tackle its air deadly air pollution, the German government is considering making public transport free in its most polluted cities. Few cities have attempted such a scheme - with the notable exception of Tallinn.

# data[].attributes.body
Which country has the most car accidents?

# data[].attributes.body
There are some people who drive without a license!

# data[].attributes.headline
How much time do Americans spend time in traffic in a year?

# data[].attributes.subject
How much time do Americans spend time in traffic in a year?

# data[].attributes.body
According to New York Times an average American spend roughly 152 hours in a traffic in a year!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Three-hour accident delays, flooded streets, transmissions falling out on bridges - Americans who commute by car know all too well the pitfalls of getting to and from work.

Americans who commute to and from work end up late, due to traffic or too many stops, 77 work days a year on average, according to new research.

According to the survey, the average daily American commute totals approximately 35 minutes. That's about 152 hours - or 19 full work days a year - driving to work in their cars.

Given how much time they spend in their cars, it should come as no surprise that a new study of 2,000 Americans who drive to work has uncovered that 68 percent of Americans said their whole day could be ruined by a bad commute.

If all the other cars weren't indication enough - traffic affects a majority of American workers. In fact, less than one in 10 Americans say they don't encounter any traffic on their typical daily commute.

In total, about one-fourth of the average commute is spent in traffic.

The new survey, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Valvoline.com, found that while a stressful commute can ruin a day, 71 percent of Americans find their commute peaceful and relaxing.

Sixty-three percent of Americans said that commuting time was a major part of their job decision, and for many, work starts in the car on the way to the office. About one-third of commuters use their drive to visualize their work day and make to-do lists in their head.

Twenty-eight percent of commuters make phone calls on their drive, and more than one in 10 improve themselves in other ways, like learning a language using a tape.

That said, commutes aren't all about improvement, or prepping for the workday.

Half of Americans have had to pull over on their commute due to car trouble, and 52 percent have experienced a commuting nightmare.

The most common nightmares? Thirty-eight percent have dealt with a flat tire, 25 percent have had an engine overheat and 22 percent reported dealing with wiper malfunctions.

"Here at Valvoline, we celebrate these road warriors and are committed to helping maintain the life of their engine for years to come," said Thom Smith, the VP of Lubricant Technology at Valvoline.

"That's why we're constantly innovating our oils, greases and lubricants, and our service offerings through Valvoline's Instant Oil Change℠ service centers and other shops, dealerships and garages across the country. We have an oil for practically every engine on the road, all of which exceed industry standards to provide the ultimate protection against wear and aging."

Half of American commuters reported having intentionally taken a longer way on their commute to have more time to themselves before work.

In case you thought you were the only one - roughly half (43 percent) of commuters sing along with music. The average commute includes about five songs.

Or, perhaps that intentional delay has less to do with practicing matching pitch and more to do with on-the-fly budgeting. The average commute costs Americans about $83 a week ($8.40 in tolls every day and $41 in gas each week).

"Commuting falls into a category car makers call severe driving," said Smith.

"Most drivers don't realize that severe driving isn't about driving style but rather the types of trips they're making. Heavy stop-and-go traffic, short trips, frequent idling and sustained highway travel in cold or hot temperatures can result in more wear and tear on an engine. It's important to keep up regularly scheduled maintenance and use proper, quality products for your vehicle to help prevent costly and inconvenient breakdowns."

Less than half of Americans polled (46 percent) knew that stop-and-go driving is a form of severe driving. Just one in five understood that short-distance commutes of less than five miles are a form of severe driving.

Smith continued, providing a guide to severe driving for commuters:

A good way to figure out if your driving conditions are normal is to compare them to what you original equipment manufacturer's (OEM) guidelines describe as severe. And you might be surprised at what severe driving can include:

Frequent idling for long periods of time

Stop-and-go driving in heavy traffic

Long-distance trips at speeds of 50mph or less

Regular trips along steep hills or mountains

Any trips along dusty, muddy, salted, sanded, or gravel roads

Any trips that involve towing a trailer or a camper

Any trips that involve transporting items via roof rack or car-top carrier

"Whether your driving conditions are normal or severe, maintain your vehicle accordingly. Being proactive about maintenance can increase the reliability of your vehicle, reduce the long-term costs of operating it and boost resale value," said Smith.

"So, break out the owner's manual (or consult your mechanic) and protect what's under your hood to avoid commuting nightmares."
The five most common commute nightmares
Calculations:
The 152 hours, or 19 eight-hour work days per year figure was arrived at by multiplying the average daily commute (35 minutes) by a five-day work week and a 52-week year. The 77 days late to work due to traffic figure was determined by multiplying the average times per week traffic/too many stops cause respondents to be late to work (1.48) by a 52-week year.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Depressing amount of time Americans spend stuck in commuter traffic each year

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Three-hour accident delays, flooded streets, transmissions falling out on bridges - Americans who commute by car know all too well the pitfalls of getting to and from work. Americans who commute to and from work end up late, due to traffic or too many stops, 77 work days a year on average, according to new research.

# data[].attributes.body
A lot of people use their phones while driving.

# data[].attributes.headline
How many accidents happen in a year (in İstanbul)? 

# data[].attributes.subject
How many accidents happen in a year (in İstanbul)? 

# data[].attributes.body
Istanbul had the most traffic accidents in 2015. 23.856 accidents happened that year according to Daily Sabah.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
New statistics revealed that a traffic accident happened almost every 82 seconds and a total of 1,559 people were killed in those accidents in the first six months of 2015, a chilling figure where such accidents are a major public concern.

Police figures showed more than 190,000 accidents have taken place since January, where 131,798 people were injured.

Despite repeated awareness campaigns, regular vehicle inspections and strict fines against motorists violating traffic safety regulations, figures reveal the accidents show no sign of a significant decline, with more than 3,500 people killed in traffic accidents throughout the last year.

Police figures show an average of 1,053 accidents happened every day, which claimed an average of nine lives.

Istanbul, the country's largest city with a population of at least 14 million, saw the highest rate of accidents in the first six months of 2015. A total of 129 people were killed in 7,422 accidents in the city. The overall number of accidents was 23,856. The city, which has the worst traffic in the world according to the TomTom Traffic Index, is home to two major highways stretching through its European and Asian sides where most accidents take place. The capital Ankara followed Istanbul with 81 deaths and 24,447 accidents.

The eastern city of Tunceli was the city with the least traffic accidents. Only two people were killed out of 149 accidents. Bayburt in the northern Black Sea region was the luckiest city with no deaths reported in any accidents since January.

As for the cause of accidents, the police cited reckless driving or more formally "drivers failing to comply with road, weather and traffic conditions" as the main reason for most accidents. More than 10,000 accidents were due to drivers ignoring the correct right of way, and 1,863 accidents were caused by drunk drivers. A total of 1,983 accidents stemmed from exceeding speed limits.

Police also announced figures regarding fines issued to drivers and pedestrians. More than 6 million drivers, pedestrians and passengers were fined for violating traffic rules, while 334,777 vehicles were banned from being driven.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Traffic accidents kill more than 1,500 in 6 months

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
New statistics revealed that a traffic accident happened almost every 82 seconds and a total of 1,559 people were killed in those accidents in the first six months of 2015, a chilling figure where such accidents are a major public concern. Police figures showed more than 190,000 accidents have taken place since January, where 131,798 people were injured.

# data[].attributes.body
Main causes of accidents are speeding, drunk driving and distraction.

# data[].attributes.body
What are the main causes of accidents?

# data[].attributes.body
How many accidents happen in a year (in İstanbul)?

# data[].attributes.headline
Which city has the most cramped traffic?

# data[].attributes.subject
Which city has the most cramped traffic?

# data[].attributes.body
Mumbai / India has the most cramped traffic jam according to Forbes 2018 research.

# data[].attributes.body
How much time do Americans spend time in traffic in a year?

# data[].attributes.headline
How many cars do we have around the world? 

# data[].attributes.subject
How many cars do we have around the world? 

# data[].attributes.body
We have over 1 billion cars in the world.

# data[].attributes.body
If we make public transportation free can we decrease traffic problems?

# data[].attributes.body
We cause the traffic.

# data[].attributes.body
How many cars do we have around the world?

# data[].attributes.body
Traffic cause a air pollution.

# data[].attributes.body
We became more stressed.

# data[].attributes.body
Which city has the most cramped traffic?

# data[].attributes.body
Traffic takes a lot of our time