For the millions of Americans who commute to work, rush hour can be one of the most painfully long and stressful parts of the day. The average American spends 36 hours per year stuck in traffic; much more in the nation’s largest cities, according to a July 2009 article in TIME Magazine. And a recent Forbes study found rush hour to be one of the worst driving safety times of the day; but it doesn’t have to be.

Follow these safe driving practices to help reduce stress and to get to your destination safely and happily:

1. Avoid distractions – Instead of multi-tasking, use the time in your car to de-stress and relax. Although you probably have many errands to take care of, follow-up phone calls to make or an enticing meal to eat on-the-go, distractions while driving can lead to serious consequences for you and other people on the road.

2. Go with the speed of traffic – Following the speed limit is the legal and responsible thing to do; however, driving slower than the speed of other cars around you can also lead to serious accidents. Keep up with the flow of traffic, if possible, but if even going the speed limit makes you feel uncomfortable, drive in the outermost right lane.

3. Avoid aggressive driving – While you may think you can beat the traffic by fast starts, speeding and lane hopping, the truth is, you can’t. Aggressive driving not only significantly decreases your gas mileage and the overall car safety, but will also lead to unnecessary stress and tension.

4. Leave earlier, get there faster – By traveling earlier or later, you may be able to avoid peak rush-hour times. Stop-and-go traffic is not fuel efficient and can be a major headache, so by leaving just five or 10 minutes early (or even taking a different route altogether), you may be able to avoid traffic congestion and increase your fuel efficiency to save money.