The daily drive

In 1976 when Murph O'Brien made the early-morning drive into Anchorage for work, he wouldn't see a soul on the Parks Highway. When he made it to the Glenn Highway, he would usually pass a single vehicle coming the other direction on the Palmer Hay Flats. Each morning, the two commuters would wave amicably to each other and drive on, never knowing each other's names.

Nearly 30 years later, it is an entirely different story. With coffee and cell phones in hand and rock-and-roll blasting on the stereos, close to 10,000 Mat-Su Valley residents do the white-knuckled race to Anchorage every morning and evening.

Along the way, they keep an eye out for Alaska State Troopers, meandering moose and patches of black ice. And they also warily watch for their nutty counterparts -- those who try to drive and read the newspaper at the same time, and those who dart in and out of traffic as if the Glenn Highway were the Daytona 500.

Most Valley commuters say they dread those two hours each day devoted to the road, and as the days darken and the snow creeps down the mountains so begins what many would call commuter hell.

"It is my least favorite thing," said Debbie Wetherhorn, a Valley resident how has driven to her job in Anchorage five days a week for the past four-and-a-half years. "Going in to town this morning, there was a continuous line of traffic … In the summer time, it's a piece of cake, but in the winter it's no fun at all."

On the worst winter days, when the snow is coming down and the wind is blowing, one vehicle after another will find its way into a snow berm.

"I've seen some real wing-dingers," said Sutton resident Jim Novak, who has made the drive into Anchorage for work since 1994. On the worst days, Novak said, he has seen 10 to 15 cars in the ditch along the Glenn Highway, and then he eases up a bit on the gas pedal.

Both O'Brien and Wetherhorn have had their close calls. Years ago, O'Brien slid into the ditch on an icy day while driving into town, and not that long ago Wetherhorn was involved in a small fender-bender.

While neither of these were catastrophic accidents, even the minor ones serve as a reminder for how dangerous the roads can be, leaving drivers' neck muscles a little more tense and their knuckles a little whiter.

Some people ease the stress by sharing it. Novak has carpooled into Anchorage for the past several years and he says it helps both financially and mentally.

"My stress level goes down on my week off," Novak said of driving. Even when it is his turn behind the wheel, he said the conversation with the other people in the car makes the time go faster.

His carpool had informal beginnings. When several friends and co-workers started working at the same place and the same time, Novak said, "Hey, you want to drive this week and I'll drive next."

Those who don't drive usually kick in a few bucks for gasoline. The group meets at a central location in the Valley, parks and piles into one car.

O'Brien said he, too, used to carpool until recently when his commuting partners' work schedules changed. Now he is the doing the drive alone. Wetherhorn, on the other hand, has always opted for the solo trip. She says she like to be free to stay after work in Anchorage to do errands if she wants, and, she confesses, she is also a smoker.

But even when stuck in cars by themselves, commuters find ways to cope. For many, the radio is key. Wetherhorn likes music; Novak and O'Brien usually choose news and talk shows on National Public Radio, and O'Brien admits he sometimes turns on the rock-and-roll when he needs a jump-start.

"You don't want to listen to something like Howard Stern … because it just kind of adds to it," Novak said.

Novak is no road-rager, but if you ask him to list a few of his pet-peeves, he has no trouble coming up with them -- people who drive and put make-up on at the same time, tailgaters, drivers who go slow in the fast lane, people who don't use their turn signals and idiots who dart in and out of traffic.

These are common complaints. The road-rage brochure put out by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety lists many of these as potential ways to annoy others on the road.

When Wetherhorn sees one of these offensive drivers zinging along and pushing their way through traffic, she said she finds herself saying, "Where do you think you're going to go? You're dodging in and out of traffic … and I'm going to meet you at the stoplight."

But then she takes a breath, finds a quiet spot behind another commuter going about the same speed and lets go.

"It's a lesson in patience … I might get a little upset, but I'm just not even going to go there," she said.

This seems to be a common approach to dealing with the frustration -- breathing deep and keeping it all in perspective. And while there may be more cars on the road than ever before, most commuters will admit there also have been some improvements.

O'Brien, who works with the Department of Transportation, can recall the days of having to drive the Old Glenn Highway with its narrow lanes and the old Eklutna bridge, which he described as "spooky."

Commuters seem to agree improvements to the highways have made the drive much easier.

"I just truly enjoy the lights on the flats," Wetherhorn said.

And when commuters are feeling especially upbeat, they can even find some good in their daily drives.

Wetherhorn said she sometimes finds the time alone in the car is a space where she can reflect and process the day, and occasionally a display of northern lights or a striking sunrise will take her breath away. She can then forget about the commute.

"It has its special moments that people who don't commute just don't get to see," O'Brien agreed. He recalled amazing nights when the Hale Bop comet was out and the northern lights and moon made their simultaneous appearance in the dark sky. If he weren't on the road, chances are he never would have seen those magical sights.

Even this time of year, O'Brien said, the trees are ablaze in their fall colors, the mountains stretch in all directions and he is reminded of how beautiful the commute is.

"It's actually a gorgeous drive," he said.

How to avoid road rage

Tips for not offending

other drivers

Don't cut people off. When you merge, leave plenty of room. Use your turn signal. If someone cuts you off, slow down and given them room to merge into your lane.

Don't drive slowly in the passing lane. If you are in the left lane and someone want to pass, move over and let them by.

Don't tailgate. Drivers get angry when they are followed too closely. Allow at least a two-second space between your car and the car ahead. If you think another car is driving too slowly and you are unable to pass, pull back and allow more space rather than less. That way if the car does something unexpected, you will have time to react. You should be able to see the headlights of the car behind you in your rear-view mirror. If you feel you are being followed too closely, pull over and let the other driver go by.

Don't make obscene gestures. Almost nothing makes another driver angrier. Keep your hands on the wheel. Be a cautious and courtesy river. If another driver seems eager to get in front of you say, "Be my guest." When you respond this way, after a while it will become your automatic response and you won't be as offended by other driver's rudeness.

These tips are courtesy AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Tips for serene commuting

Start thinking about the people inside the cars around you. On crowded highways, it's easy to think you're surrounded by nothing but heavy chunks of metal. Remember that inside each of those machines is a person very much like yourself.

Smile. Even if you're crank and irritated, smile. Studies show that the simple act relaxes your face and body.

Enjoy the view. As you drive, make a point of noticing the trees, mountains and beautiful places around you.

Decorate your dashboard with a photo of your daughter, beloved pet or favorite view. When feeling angry, look at the inspiring snapshot.

Someone cuts in front of you? Leans on the horn? When the going gets touch, take a time out and breathe five, long, slow, deep breathes.

These tips are courtesy Serenity2Go Webpage.