Commuter Pain Index shows that Mexico City has the worst commute, ever

Hey Canadians or specifically Torontonians, you thought your commute was bad? It could be worse - you could be living in Mexico City where the commute is a back-breaking, rage-inducing 108 on the scale compared to Toronto's paltry 27.

Montrealers, you're fine. Your commute is the least painful at a scant 21 on the pain and rage scale.

The index is comprised of 10 issues: 1) commuting time, 2) time stuck in traffic, agreement that: 3) price of gas is already too high, 4) traffic has gotten worse, 5) start-stop traffic is a problem, 6) driving causes stress, 7) driving causes anger, 8) traffic affects work, 9) traffic so bad driving stopped, and 10) decided not to make trip due to traffic.

IBM conducted the 2011 Commuter Pain survey and found that yes, there is indeed pain. This year's survey recorded "significant increases, when compared to last year," in the number of respondent who said that traffic has increased their stress and anger levels as well as negatively affected their work or school performance.

"Commuting doesn't occur in a vacuum," said Naveen Lamba, IBM's global intelligent transportation expert in the release. "A person's emotional response to the daily commute is coloured by many factors – pertaining both to traffic congestion as well as to other, unrelated, issues. This year's Global Commuter Pain survey indicates that drivers in cities around the world are much more unsettled and anxious compared with 2010."

What was found was that congestion can decrease a city's productivity and that investing in infrastructure both in the roads and in alternate forms of transport and technology can have a positive effect on congestion and commuters' health and well-being.

You can read the full report here and check out the video after the jump that explains some of the changes some cities are implementing to deal with congestion.

News Source: IBM Commuter Pain Survey