Bus travel ‘a third less stressful than the car’
Taking the bus rather than driving in the car according to new research is a third less stressful.
Dr David Lewis from The University of Sussex found motorists face a hidden mental health impact from the stress and strain of driving, however travelling by bus can produce long term health benefits.
Elements such as ‘road rage‘ and an increase in the heart rate and EDR (Electro-Dermal Response) when driving have proven 33% more when driving compared with travelling passenger on the bus. This type of stress can have long term physiological and emotional implications. Whereas boarding the bus can produce significant long term health benefits.
With more and more cars on the road, CO2 pollution emissions could be cut if more people used the bus to travel, whether it be to work, leisure and studies. Just one double decker bus can take 75 cars off the road and considerably reduce emissions levels in the UK.
With increasing traffic congestion and delays and the sense of frustration of ‘wasting one’s life’ behind the wheel of the car, restricted to casual conversations or listening to the radio. On a bus it is possible to fill the time more fruitfully by doing some work or reading.
Various Green Journey campaigns can encouraging people to get out of their cars and on to the bus for trips where it makes sense – such as shopping in town, heading to a restaurant or pub or going to the movies.
With increasing insurance premiums, rising fuel costs, parking fees and limitations on top of traffic congestion using the bus has never seemed so attractive.
