One Lucky Commuter Gets a Morning Rush by Participating in Dodge 'Avenge Your Commute

earthtimes.org | AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- From the bumper-to- bumper traffic and unnecessary horns to the screeching tires and continuous break lights, many Americans are stressed out by the 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. rat race. A recent Dodge survey revealed 51 percent of Americans who live in major markets find their daily commute stressful. Of those, 62 percent experience feelings of frustration, 52 percent get in bad moods, 37 percent suffer from headaches and 28 percent experience back pain.

In addition to the essay contest, Dodge partnered with Dr. Martha Beck, internationally-recognized life coach, to help commuters minimize the stress caused by the daily commute.

"When things are out of our control, such as congested, standstill traffic, our immediate reaction is to stress out. Some commuters even become more aggressive on the road when faced with a stressful situation," said Dr. Beck, a best-selling author and columnist for O, The Oprah Magazine. "To help everyone de-stress and avoid accidents on the road, there are simple techniques commuters can do while behind the wheel, but the first step is to channel your stress into positive thoughts and take deep breaths."

"Avenging his Commute"

To avenge his commute, Dodge set up a safe environment - near Los Angeles' I-101 morning rush hour traffic - for Schneeberger to relieve his commuter stress in a fun, therapeutic way. From throwing balloons full of mud and firing a paint gun to lunging shopping carts and running over the vehicle in a Monster Truck, Schneeberger had his chance to blow off some commuter steam.

"I got such a rush when I received the phone call telling me that my essay was selected, but the greatest part was having the chance to vent my frustrations and demolish a vehicle, knowing I was going to get an all-new Dodge Avenger," said Schneeberger. "I can honestly say I will never think about my commute the same way again, especially since I'll be doing it by myself from behind the wheel of this cool new car."

Tips to Keep the Commuter Stress Away

Dodge and Dr. Beck offer simple tips to alleviate the stress that comes with battling bumper-to-bumper traffic, including:

-- Diminish the pains in your neck, back and head - Neck pains, headaches and backaches are common results of holding muscle tension while sitting in the driver's seat. Ease these symptoms by doing small-scale"hold and release" exercises with different muscle groups. -- Press your head back against the headrest until your neck muscles are tight. Hold for a count of three, and then relax. Repeat 10 times. -- Push your shoulders down and back, so that your shoulder blades push against the seat. Hold and release 10 times. -- Learn to chill out - Stay hydrated. Dehydration causes irritability and fatigue before you actually sense thirst, so sip a chilled beverage before you are feeling parched. With the Dodge Avenger's ChillZone(TM), a chilled beverage storage bin that is standard on all models, commuters can keep as many as four 12-oz. beverage cans on hand at all times. Once they have their beverage of choice, they can keep it cold -- or hot -- in the Avenger's heated/cooled front cup holder. No reason for commuters to ever be thirsty again. -- Take a breath of fresh and cold air - Blast cool air into your face from the air conditioner or roll down the window and breathe in fresh air. Your body loves the coolness and the oxygen. -- Jam in traffic - Plug in your MP3 player or find your favorite radio station. The Dodge Avenger is MP3 compatible, so you can "jam" to your personal play list. Or with SIRIUS Satellite Radio, available on Avenger, listen to your favorites without commercials. Sing along by not just humming, but pulling in large breaths and supporting your voice with your diaphragm. The music and the deep breathing are both terrific stress-busters -- Choose a lane and stay in it - Changing lanes frequently will only get you to your final destination a few seconds earlier and increases your chances of colliding with another car. The Dodge Avenger can help you avoid bumper-to-bumper commutes. Available through SIRIUS Satellite Radio, the Avenger's available MyGIG(TM) multimedia system with navigation can provide alternate routes based on real-time traffic patterns.

"We understand that commuting can be stressful, but also know that commuting is apart of our everyday lives and isn't going to go away," said Tom Loveless, Director - Dodge Brand Marketing and Global Communications. "This is why we design vehicles, such as the new Dodge Avenger, that will make the commute more enjoyable. With new features like the Chill Zone(TM), MyGIG Multimedia Infotainment Radio and heated/cooled cup holder, consumers should feel right at home in their ride to and from work."