Many Commuters Text, Have Road Rage

According to CareerBuilder, 58% of workers said they experience road rage at times while traveling to and from the office, similar to findings in 2006 when the study was last conducted. Nearly one in 10 workers (9%) who drive to work have gotten into a fight with another commuter.

The vast majority of workers (83%) said they typically drive to work and, of those, 12% reported they took a job with a longer commute during or post-recession. While road rage is more prevalent among those with lengthy commutes, workers with short trips to their jobs are not immune.

Thirty-seven percent of workers with commutes of less than five minutes said they experience road rage from time to time. The same goes for 54% of workers with commutes of less than 10 minutes.

Women were more apt to feel road age – 61% compared with 56% of men. In terms of age groups, workers ages 25 to 34 were the most likely to experience road rage at 68%, while workers 55 and older were the least likely to experience it at 47%.

Nearly one in four workers (24%) who drive to work reported they have been involved in an accident. While a variety of factors contribute to accidents, cell phone use can be a culprit. Three in 10 workers (30%) admitted they have texted while driving to and from work.

Workers may have a more amicable commute over the summer months. While 10% of workers reported they tend to have more road rage in the summer, 17% tend to have less.

“Road rage is most often associated with running late and far commutes,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. “Planning ahead and taking advantage of flexible work arrangements can help alleviate stress levels and set a more positive vibe for the workday.”

The study was conducted online by Harris Interactive from May 14 to June 4 and included more than 3,800 workers nationwide.