CHICAGO, Nov. 20 2008 - In an effort to better understand drivers' frustrations on the road, NAVIGON, one of the world's leading and fastest growing providers of navigation products and solutions, today announced the results of an independent survey conducted by Kelton Research of 1,021 American drivers ages 18 and over. The study provides a comprehensive, in-depth analysis of driving-related anxieties and behaviors, from getting lost to the morning commute.
The Commuter Blues
A staggering 94 percent of American drivers get stressed when driving on the highway, with the most common sources of frustration cited as traffic or congestion (70 percent) and roadwork (65 percent). And even with the turmoil in the commercial airline industry, 67 percent of drivers are more frustrated with delays on the road than delays in air travel.
The survey found that 86 percent of drivers find themselves in traffic congestion during their morning commute and that it adds an average of 18 minutes to the drive each morning. Over the course of one year 18 minutes a day adds up to 78 hours, or more than three full days spent in traffic.
I Give Up!
A clear sign that commuters are at the end of their rope, 67 percent of those who sit in traffic during their morning commute would be willing to give up some part of their cherished morning routine -- TV, family time, or even taking a shower -- in exchange for a traffic-free commute. Of this group, 40 percent would forgo breakfast, 34 percent would go without a cup of coffee and nearly a quarter would even be willing to give up morning sex!
"Traffic is no longer limited to major cities like New York and Los Angeles, drivers across the country are doing whatever they can to avoid it like the plague," said Sam Schwartz, aka "Gridlock Sam," one of the leading transportation engineers in the U.S. "The most important thing for drivers is to be prepared for traffic. Whether that means leaving early to avoid the rush or using alternate routes that are less traveled, drivers should plan ahead to avoid headaches caused by gridlock."
Can I Get a Loan?
The data also shows that drivers are willing to spend significant sums of money to completely avoid traffic. In fact, 50 percent of the drivers who'd pay money to avoid traffic would spend more than $1,000 each year, while 20 percent would pay upwards of $2,500 a year to avoid congestion!
"Traffic wastes time, energy and money, something we understand not only from a research perspective, but from a personal one as well since we commute too," said Gareth Schweitzer, president of Kelton Research. "This study reveals that drivers are getting stressed out with the traffic they regularly face on the nation's roadways, something that has many of them willing to spend thousands of dollars throughout the year just to avoid it."
Which Way Do I Go?
A whopping 85 percent of American drivers admit they've gotten lost while driving, with poor directions and unclear or missing highway signs being named as the top two reasons drivers have lost their way.
An overwhelming 91 percent of drivers admit they've missed an exit on the highway, oftentimes resulting in getting lost. Perhaps this is because 44 percent of American drivers -- 50 percent of women versus just 38 percent of men -- find road signs or sudden lane changes on the highway confusing. As if missing the exit wasn't enough, 62 percent of drivers who have missed an exit say they've wasted time and gas trying to find their way back on track.
The tension caused by losing their way on the road isn't helping drivers' relationships either. American drivers across the country admit that directions-especially when they're lost-are the number one thing they've fought about while driving with their significant other.
"Let's face it, the roadways can be frustrating," said Michael Roach, NAVIGON's president for the America's. "From high-end to entry-level price points, we've made a commitment to helping drivers stay on track and get to their destination quickly and safely, while routing around traffic whenever possible. We've all been stuck on the road during rush hour, but NAVIGON features like Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life will help consumers steer clear of congestion that was once unavoidable."
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