Commuters' journey time to work doubles in five years according to new research

Average journey time to work in 2003- 35 minutes
Average journey time to work in 2007- 1 hour 5 minutes

It takes the average employee 1 hour 5 minutes to commute to work, which is double the time compared to commute times in 2003 (35 minutes in 2003), according to new research by Peninsula, the employment law firm. The Peninsula study questioned 1,421 employees throughout November and December 2007.

The study has revealed that congestion, roadworks, delayed and cancelled public transport were among the top reasons for the increase to journey times for commuters.

Top 5 commuter gripes:

- Public transport late or cancelled
- Road congestion
- Accident creating severe delays
- Public transport breaking down en-route
- Public transport too full to stop and pick up passengers

Peter Done, managing director of Peninsula said today, People are finding that they have to wake up and start their journey to work a lot earlier than they did five years ago. Roadworks, congestion and public transport running late are all blamed for those commuters who are a few minutes late for work.

Employees who use the public transport system sometimes find that multiple changes are necessary to reach their final destinations. If one part of their commute is delayed it has a significant impact on the next leg of their journey. It is especially worse for those who live further away from work, where public transport is not as accessible and for those who work away from the city centre.

Mr Done continues: Those who commute by car are finding it equally frustrating to drive to work and the winter conditions do not help. Bad weather conditions create poor driving conditions, inevitably creating delays. Travelling to work can be both stressful and frustrating, often putting employees in a bad mood for work.

Employers should allow flexibility where possible and be considerate if there are significant delays. Employees obviously need to make their bosses aware if they are going to be late due to unforeseen circumstances as early as possible, and an understanding between both the employee and the employer should be sought.

Peter Done concludes: Searching the internet the night before to check any roadworks or delays which may affect journey times or even a check of the weather forecast are helpful tips for employees in reducing commuting stresses. Solutions such as car sharing may also be a viable solution worth considering; it has both financial, time management and environmental advantages.