Sitting in traffic isn’t only frustrating, it may be associated with myriad public health problems, ranging from increases in domestic violence to respiratory problems caused by long-term exposure to vehicle exhaust, according to a range of research.
In a January 21, 2019, New York Times article, Austin Frakt, adjunct associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, reviewed several studies that establish links between traffic and health issues. One study found that the unpredictability of being stuck in traffic creates a sense of helplessness that takes a toll on the psychological well-being of commuters. Another study found that extreme evening traffic on I-5 and I-10 in Los Angeles was associated with a 9% increase in incidences of nighttime domestic violence.
Among the possible solutions Frakt noted were toll systems that charge solo drivers to use certain lanes during times of heavy traffic and replacing tollbooths with electronic and cashless systems such as E-ZPass. Frakt also noted that those who commute by walking or bicycling not only avoid the harmful consequences of traffic, but also improve their health by exercising.
Read the New York Times article: Stuck and Stressed: The Health Costs of Traffic