Finger Lakes residents live in a healthy and safe physical environment

Percentage of the workforce that drives alone to work

Current Value

77%

2022

Definition

"Percentage of the workforce that drives alone to work. The 2024 Annual Data Release used data from 2018-2022 for this measure.

The transportation choices that communities and individuals make have important impacts on health through items such as active living, air quality, and traffic crashes. The choices for commuting to work can include walking, biking, taking public transit, carpooling, or individuals driving alone, the last of which is the most damaging to the health of communities. In most counties, driving alone is also the primary form of transportation to work. Walking and mixed-methods commuting are associated with lower body mass index than commuting by car. The choice of commuting method depends upon many factors, which are influenced by the physical environment and individual safety concerns. Car-only commuters have significantly higher body fat percentages than mixed and active commuters. People who drive to work are less likely to reach recommended activity levels than those who use other transportation forms."

Source: Driving Alone to Work | County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

"Percentage of the workforce that drives alone to work. The 2024 Annual Data Release used data from 2018-2022 for this measure.

The transportation choices that communities and individuals make have important impacts on health through items such as active living, air quality, and traffic crashes. The choices for commuting to work can include walking, biking, taking public transit, carpooling, or individuals driving alone, the last of which is the most damaging to the health of communities. In most counties, driving alone is also the primary form of transportation to work. Walking and mixed-methods commuting are associated with lower body mass index than commuting by car. The choice of commuting method depends upon many factors, which are influenced by the physical environment and individual safety concerns.&nbsp;Car-only commuters have significantly higher body fat percentages than mixed and active commuters. People who drive to work are less likely to reach recommended activity levels than those who use other transportation forms."

Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/explore-health-rankings/county-health-rankings-model/health-factors/physical-environment/housing-and-transit/driving-alone-to-work?year=2023">Driving Alone to Work | County Health Rankings &amp; Roadmaps</a>

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Data Sources and Measure Methods

The 2024 Annual Data Release used data from 2018-2022 for this measure.

Data Source

"American Community Survey, 5-year estimates: The American Community Survey (ACS) is a nationwide survey designed to give communities a fresh look at how they are changing. It is critical in the Census Bureau's reengineered decennial census program. The ACS collects and produces population and housing information yearly instead of every ten years and publishes one-year and five-year estimates. The County Health Rankings use American Community Survey data to measure social and economic factors."

Measure Methods

"Driving Alone to Work is a percentage: Driving Alone to Work is the percentage of the workforce that usually drives alone to work."
"Numerator: The numerator is the number of workers who commute alone to work via car, truck, or van."
"Denominator: The denominator is the total workforce."
"Can This Measure Be Used to Track Progress?: This measure can be used to track progress with some caveats. It is important to note that the estimate provided in the County Health Rankings is a 5-year average. However, for counties with a population greater than 20,000 individuals, single-year estimates can be obtained from the resource listed below."

Source: Driving Alone to Work | County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

References

Andersen LB. Active Commuting: an easy and effective way to improve health. Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology. 2016; 4(5):381-82.
Flint E, Cummins S. Active commuting and obesity in mid-life: cross-sectional observational evidence from UK BioBank. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinology. 2016; 4(5):420-35.
Wen LM, Orr C, Millett C, Rissel C. Driving to work and overweight and obesity: findings from the 2003 New South Wales Health Survey, Australia. International Journal of Obesity. 2006; 30:782-86.

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