Calls for 'smarter working' to combat congestion

Date: 21 May 2007

The average commuter will travel two and a half times round the world during their career, according to research by the RAC Foundation released to publicise Work Wise Transport Day, Monday 21 May.

Of the 25m people commuting every day, 72% travel by car. The Foundation also says longer commutes are on the rise, with the average journey taking just under an hour. Almost a fifth of all distance travelled is for commuting.

"Adopting smarter working practices can make a big difference to the distance and time committed to the commute," said RAC Foundation research development manager Elizabeth Dainton. "Working from home just one day a week can reduce commuting distance by 20% and working outside the normal nine-to-five helps reduce congestion and time spent at the wheel. If you can't reduce your commute, it is well worth taking the time to reconsider the daily habit."

"An overall reduction in the need to travel is a key benefit of smarter working. The requirement to travel to and from work at the same time to the same place every weekday, and also to travel many miles for meetings, is largely unnecessary considering the technologies available," said Work Wise UK boss Phil Flaxton. "Changing our working practices could be one of the solutions to road congestion, and probably the only one that is currently achievable."

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