Dubai: How stressful can a drive to work possibly be? About as nerve-wracking as skydiving off a plane.
The comparison was made by the 2013 Road Frustration Index, developed by Audi and US-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which investigated the emotive aspects of driving by using real-time driver and environmental data.
Gulf News spoke to readers to find out how they coped with being stuck in traffic and look at the importance of avoiding traffic stress.
Using data from two national surveys, research published in the journal Psychological Science, found negative responses to daily stresses such as arguments with a partner, conflicts at work, standing in long queues or sitting in traffic led to psychological distress or anxiety and mood disorders ten years later.
Mental health problems are not affected by just major life events, but also by seemingly minor emotional experiences.
Learning and discovery tools
Fahad Durrani, a Sharjah resident, commutes to Dubai Media City on a daily basis.
He told Gulf News: “The distance isn’t too long, but the traffic makes it worse. I try to avoid driving as much as I can. I live in the Al Nahda area, so I walk to the closest Dubai Metro station and catch a train. The walk is long, takes me 20 minutes to reach, but I’d rather do that than sit through all the traffic. But, there are days when I take my car, and I inevitably face traffic.”
When in his car, Durrani has found a creative way to keep from getting frustrated.
He said: “I have this habit of looking into taxis next to me and seeing how much the meter has come up to. I then play this guessing game and try and determine where the passenger’s journey must have begun. I remember seeing a taxi once with a fare of Dh200, and I thought he might have come from Abu Dhabi or Jebel Ali. It’s just something I do to pass time.”
Sarah A. Verghese, a Dubai resident, has found a more productive way to kill time.
She said: “I live in Dubai Investment Park and whenever I have to travel to Sharjah or Al Qusais, I have to face traffic. This is when I use my collection of self-help audiobooks and some audio CDs with standup comedy shows.”
She listens to these on her way and manages to keep herself calm.
She said: “I’m either learning something new or laughing. I usually start with a self-help audiobook, but if that gets a bit heavy at the end of the day I put in a Russell Peters CD. I recommend this to everyone, or they could even try getting one of those CDs that help you learn a new language. It’s time well spent.”
Something common that many people might do is try to find an alternate route. Sasi Menon, a Sharjah resident, is one of them.
He said: “I work in Dubai and it’s a common thing for me to encounter traffic. There’s not much that you can do. I try to find a different route, but I’ve been travelling from Sharjah to Dubai and back in peak traffic hours for quite some time now and have tried all the roads. Every road is crowded!”
He tries his best to keep calm by listening to music or browsing through different radio channels. But, there are times when frustration takes over.
He said: “When you’re driving, people keep changing lanes. Or if you try to change lanes, they won’t let you in. Everyone gets aggressive and it adds to the frustration levels. It is a test of patience and will.”
Fun techniques to cope
Many readers shared their ways of dealing with traffic on the official Gulf News Facebook page.
Rida Rashid posted: “I sing in the weirdest tone and then laugh at myself. I’m sure I look funny to people around me.”
Leo Adoc, a Dubai resident, posted: “I imagine that there is genie in my car, who gives me three wishes. I then think what three things I would wish for and don’t even realise when the traffic congestion gets over.”
Sandra Jane Peters, a resident of Lancashire, England, posted: “I look at other motorists around me and take heed of how they are reacting to the congestion. You can learn so much and get great ideas for writing. If stuck in traffic, focus on creativity in the situation instead of stress; it helps.
Ian Sanders posted: “I pretend to have machine guns and rocket launchers like James Bond, and then smile as I imagine blowing up the cars that try to cut in front of me.”
Farzila Nizam Umm Muhammad, a Dubai resident, posted: “I have four juniors at the back of my car. They are enough entertainment for me. We play some games like, ‘how many monkeys fell off the bed?’ or ‘how many bottles still hanging on the wall?’. Sometimes we have important discussions about who can win a fight between the fictional characters Spiderman and Tarzan.”
Syed Kashif, a Dubai resident, posted: “I play with my windscreen wipers. It reminds me of the rains in India and gives me immense pleasure.”
Nitsuga Shoj, a photographer in Dubai, posted: “I either polish on my writing skills, usually coming up with something I’m satisfied with every once in a while, or dream about being somewhere else taking photographs for my digital gallery.”
Archana Sen posted: “When I am stuck in the traffic I love to watch what others are doing inside their cars. Their reactions and expressions are worth observing. Some look angry, while others look bored. Others would be giving final touches to their make-up, poking their nose or talking to their loved ones. I sometimes wave to children in other vehicles. There are a lot of activities going on around you, and I enjoy them.”
Junaid Akram, a Dubai resident, posted: “I think about the things that people have said to me over the years and usually end up figuring out what one of my friends actually meant, say back in 2007.”
Ash Haimen, a Dubai resident, posted: “I usually drink coffee and brainstorm on different ideas.”
Delay in traffic and obesity
According to research published by the University of Calgary this year, there is also a strong link between the amount of time or distance travelled in a vehicle and extra kilograms on the scale. Driving more than 30 minutes a day increases the risk of obesity and being overweight.
A 2012 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that the farther people commute by vehicle, the higher their blood pressure and body mass index is likely to be.
Those who exceed the 48-kilometre round trip mark are prone to have an unhealthy waist size (40 inches for men, 35 inches for women). Excess belly fat is a known risk factor for diabetes, heart disease, strokes and other serious health problems.
When commuting to work, or back home, it is common for people to be stuck in the rush hour traffic. Gulf News readers share their stories of how they spend time when facing a jam.
Psychological impact
Louise Lambert, a psychologist based in Dubai, says people need to be prepared for traffic because “it’s not a surprise”.
She told Gulf News: “If you know you’re going to be stuck in traffic, you should go prepared. Pack a snack and water and use the washroom before you set out on your journey. It’s similar to when you’re travelling on a plane. When we’re hungry or thirsty, we tend to get agitated faster and become aggressive.”
According to Lambert, traffic brings out people’s bad side.
She said: “It makes most people hostile. They get angry, they’ll swear or make rude gestures at other motorists and even sound the horn of their car. But, what they don’t understand in the heat of the moment is that there’s nothing that you can do. Road rage is not good for your health. It increases blood pressure and the body’s temperature. Also when we’re angry, we don’t think clearly. They need to try and stay calm.”
A lot of people complain about people’s bad attitude in traffic. However, they tend to forget that they are also contributing to it.
Lambert said: “When you speak to someone, they say people are so rude on the roads. And when you ask them how they drive, they immediately say they’re really good and patient. If everyone says that, then who is bad? You are the traffic. If you want people to be nicer, you should initiate it.
“When you change lanes, wave to the other motorist to say thank you. Be more responsible and complain less. Don’t wait for others to get better. If you start driving better, you will stay calm and your blood pressure will stay stable. Listen to the radio or audiobooks. Sing if you have to. Make use of the time in a productive manner because getting angry will only affect you and your health, no one else.”
With input by Sanya Nayeem/Deputy Readers Editor
