Going back to the office? Amazon and Zoox future commute

Going back to the office? 5 things to know about the commute of the future

May 6, 2022 2:04 PM

A Zoox autonomous taxi that seats four passengers.

The pandemic forced millions of workers to make a workspace out of their homes, taking commutes out of the equation. But now, as more employers consider having employees return to the office part- or full-time, the dreaded commute may be back in play.

According to the Census Bureau, 85% of the U.S. workforce drove to work before the pandemic — this number has since dropped, given that 45% of the U.S. worked remotely last year, according to a Gallup poll. But now, 60% of managers believe a full-time return to the office will be mandated in 2022, according to employee screening service GoodHire.

This shifting need for commuting is what inspired Zoox, in partnership with Harris Poll, to survey 2,000 Americans on how they feel about the future of transportation and commuting, says Georgina Salamy, director of talent acquisition and insights at Zoox, a subsidiary of Amazon developing autonomous vehicles.

“After continued uncertainty and many delays caused by the pandemic, Americans are finally beginning to return to their offices, Zoox included,” says Salamy. “We sought to understand the shifting perspectives of Americans as they begin regularly commuting again, as well as learn more about their thoughts on the potential impacts of new modes of transportation.”

Here are five findings from Zoox about the American commute.

COVID had an impact

According to Zoox, 74% of commuters agree that COVID made them nervous about taking public transportation. Notably, the Census Bureau estimates that only 5% of the U.S. workforce used public transportation to get to work in 2019 — still, that’s eight million people who weren’t driving to HQ.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York lost millions of riders last year, and workers may still find themselves hesitant to use public transportation every day as new variants and subvariants of COVID develop.

Road rage is on the rise

As for drivers, Zoox found that 73% agree the pandemic has led to an increase in road rage, while 66% agree it has led to an increase in distracted driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that 31,720 people died from motor vehicle crashes in 2021, pointing to a 12% increase in fatalities compared to 2020.

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“It’s well known the pandemic has been a cause of increased stress, which could be a factor of increased distracted or aggressive driving,” Salamy says. “When you look at recent numbers of vehicle and pedestrian fatalities, it is alarmingly clear that roads are less safe today.”

Autonomous vehicles could be a solution

According to Zoox, 55% agree that autonomous vehicles would improve their commute. Salamy notes this is especially true for caregivers as they juggle their commute with transporting family members.

“Autonomous vehicles have the opportunity to offer greater independence for caregivers and families,” she says. “Transporting children or family members who are unable to drive themselves quickly adds up to a lot of time spent behind the wheel.”

Of those surveyed, 66% of parents and guardians said they would prefer their children to ride in a self-driving taxi or ride-hailing service rather than use public transportation or ride alone in a taxi with a driver.

The environment is on our minds

Zoox notes that 73% of Americans are concerned about the impact cars have on the environment. But Salamy is hopeful that Zoox’s autonomous robotaxis would mean fewer personal vehicles on the road. The robotaxis, which resembles futuristic subway cars that sit four passengers, would be an on-demand ride-hailing service that would pick up multiple riders at the same time.

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“Fewer personal vehicles means a decreased need for parking lots and garages — spaces that could be transformed into public spaces such as greenways or community gardens,” says Salamy. “Autonomous vehicles have an opportunity to positively impact cities and communities by lowering traffic congestion, carbon emissions and increasing access to clean transportation.”

Going back to the office? 5 things to know about the commute of the future

COVID had an impact

Road rage is on the rise

Autonomous vehicles could be a solution

Autonomous vehicles are a near-future possibility

The environment is on our minds