yet the daily commute is a tough ride for many.
The Hartford 2010 Drivability Survey conducted by GfK Roper revealed
that Charlotte drivers have generally positive attitudes about driving
and believe officials in their area are doing a good job maintaining
the streets. Nearly all drivers think it is easy to get around by car
where they live, and 80 percent agree that their fellow drivers are
courteous. On the other hand, almost three-fourths of Charlotte
drivers say traffic is getting worse in their areas, and the majority
do not think the roads where they live were designed to handle the
current volume of traffic.
"Driving is such an important part of our daily lives that it can
affect our safety, our productivity at work, and even our general
outlook on life. As an insurance company, understanding the driving
experience helps us understand how to keep drivers – and their
vehicles – moving and safe," said Kathleen Bromage, vice president,
The Hartford.
The daily commute is a major time-waster and source of frustration for
many Charlotte drivers. The survey reports that the average Charlotte
commuter spends more than 29 minutes commuting each way to and from
work, including 15.8 minutes per day lost in traffic delays. This
means that the average commuter loses 63 hours per year because of
traffic – the equivalent of eight full working days. Two-thirds of
drivers say they try to plan their days around avoiding traffic.
Multi-Tasking Behind the Wheel
Despite the delays, Charlotte commuters seem to be adept at finding
ways to make use of the time they spend stuck in traffic, with 97
percent of drivers admitting they perform at least one other activity
– such as eating, drinking, talking on a cell phone or sending text
messages – while driving to or from work. Eating or drinking (85
percent) and talking on a cell phone (79 percent) are the most common
commuting pastimes, with 33 percent of commuters reporting they do
three or more different things while driving.
Surprisingly, even in today's tight job market, only 10 percent of
Charlotte commuters would be willing to commute as long as necessary
to accept a new job they found very interesting. However, most drivers
(76 percent) would at least consider a job offer that involves a
commute of more than 30 minutes each way.
What could make the daily commute more pleasant? If given the chance,
44 percent of Charlotte drivers would choose to be driven to work by a
professional chauffeur, with fewer opting for alternatives such as a
taxi driver, soccer mom orNASCAR driver. And Oprah Winfrey tops the
list of famous people drivers might select for a carpool companion,
with 31 percent of drivers selecting the television host over
President Barack Obama, Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie, Kathy Griffin and
Beyonce.
Improving Road Conditions Would Make Charlotte Move Drivable
In Charlotte, The Hartford 2010 Drivability Survey confirmed driver
attitudes about traffic, mobility and potential solutions to improve
the "drivability" of their city:
· Almost half of Charlotte drivers (46 percent) describe their
city or area as "very drivable," and more than nine in 10 say it is at
least "somewhat drivable."
· 87 percent of drivers agree that it is easy to get around
their communities by car.
· 73 percent of drivers say traffic is getting worse in their
area, and 74 percent of drivers do not think the roads where they live
were designed to handle the current volume of traffic.
To make Charlotte more drivable, 38 percent of survey respondents
would favor improving the condition of existing roads, such as fixing
potholes or repaving streets. Less popular options included adding
more lanes to highways, timing traffic signals better, reducing
traffic delays from construction, or improving signage, each selected
by fewer than 30 percent of drivers.
In Charlotte, 56 percent of people say they routinely encounter
potholes while driving. In fact, bad roads are even less popular than
heavy traffic: 80 percent of Charlotte drivers would prefer to sit in
stop-and-go traffic on a well-paved road rather than having a road
full of potholes all to themselves.
In 2009, The Hartford launched its "Pothole Patrol" initiative to
create smoother commutes in key markets by filling costly and
burdensome potholes that cause damage and disrupt the drives of local
residents. The Pothole Patrol has visited 10 American cities to date.
For more information about The Hartford Drivability Survey and The
Hartford's Pothole Patrol initiative, aimed at improving road
conditions in markets throughout the country,
visitwww.hartfordauto.com/potholepatrol.
