Beating peak hour congestion

WHEN Zelna du Plooy and her family moved to a suburb suitable for their children’s schools, she had a big decision to make about her job.

Her 3.5km commute had been easy, but with her new home now 40km away, Du Plooy had to weigh up whether the stress of sitting in traffic for at least two hours a day was something she was willing to live with.

“Traffic stresses me out. One of the robots on the route would sometimes stay red for seven minutes.”

Du Plooy resigned, but three months later her employer asked if she would reconsider provided alternate working arrangements could be made.

Du Plooy was more than happy to go back – as long as she did not have to face the traffic every day.

“My employer and I came to an agreement. I work from home four days a week and only go into the office once a week. I travel the hour to work each day, although I am a bit stressed when I get into the office.

“I hate to be late because of traffic. I have to make sure I give myself enough time in case something on the road delays me. I could not do it every day of the week.”

Ben Fourie, an IT software specialist, was in a similar predicament. His work was only 25km from his home, but he struggled with the daily traffic congestion.

“Most of my route is on freeways, but because of the sheer number of vehicles travelling it in rush hour, it would take me about an hour to get home – and that is if there were no accidents.”

He approached his boss about his working hours, and they agreed that if he could be at work by 7am every day, he could leave at 4pm, missing the peak traffic period.

“There is still traffic but it flows a little quicker. If there are no accidents or road works I can be home in 45 minutes.”

For marketing manager Tracy Davids though, eliminating the daily commute was not as easy, so she decided to cut some of the stress out of her life.

“I gave up my job for another closer to home. The money was not as good, and the position itself was like taking a few steps backwards, but I weighed up my options and made the decision to leave.

“I now work 5km from my home, and my children are at school 3km away. I do not earn as much as I did and am not doing as well in my career, but my quality of life is priceless.”

Davids says she has a simpler and more convenient way of life which has left her, and her family, happier. – Bonny Fourie