Dodge “Avenge Your Commute” Gives Consumers Who Live Life in the Stress Lane Something to Write About

From the congested I-405 in Los Angeles to the overcrowded I-87 in New York, commuters nationwide are traveling great distances to make a living. Today, more than 10 million consumers drive more than 60 minutes each way to work and research shows that commuting can take a toll on a consumer’s health1.

In recognition of National Stress Awareness Day on Tuesday, April 17, Dodge is going to great lengths to help commuters minimize the stress caused by the daily grind. Dodge is inviting frustrated commuters to write an essay about why they believe they have the most stressful daily drive and are most deserving of a new car.

The writer of the winning essay will be flown out to Los Angeles — the city with the worst commute — to take part in a special Dodge “Avenge Your Commute” event on Monday, April 16, which will allow the winner to relieve his or her commuter stress by physically taking out his or her frustrations on a vehicle. And to make the winner’s future daily commutes more pleasurable, he or she will also win an all-new 2008 Dodge Avenger.

In addition to offering an all-new vehicle with available features such as the Chill Zone™, MyGIG™ Multimedia Infotainment System and heated/cooled cupholder to make the daily commute more enjoyable, Dodge is also teaming up with internationally-recognized life coach, Dr. Martha Beck, to provide tips on alleviating some of the stress that comes with battling bumper-to-bumper traffic.

“Let’s face it; not every commute is going to be a fast ride,” said Dr. Beck, a best-selling author and columnist for O, The Oprah Magazine. “Accepting that fact from the word ‘go’ is probably the most important thing we can do to keep our commuter-stress levels low. Then, when we’re on the road dealing with slowdowns and pile-ups, we can use all kinds of strategies to get even more relaxed. Ultimately, even bumper-to-bumper gridlocks can become opportunities to get back in touch with ourselves and turn a potentially stressful situation into a positive experience. With a little conscious attention, the commute we’ve come to dread can become a genuinely enjoyable part of our lives.”