ADHD and Commuting in New Jersey: Time, Transit, Visits

Written by the practice's editorial team. Published October 19, 2026; updated October 19, 2026. Part of the New Jersey Adult ADHD Guide, understand section. Medically reviewed by John C. Shershow, M.D. on October 19, 2026. Editorial policy

Key points

A US Department of Energy summary of 2022 Census data lists New Jersey with New York, Maryland and the District of Columbia as the places where average one-way commutes topped 30 minutes, against about 27 minutes nationally.
In Census data for 2011, 14.6% of New Jersey workers had commutes of an hour or more each way, the third-highest rate after New York and Maryland.
NIMH says adults with ADHD may find it hard to stay organized, keep appointments, perform daily tasks or finish large projects.
In a Swedish registry study, adults with ADHD had about 45% to 47% higher risk of serious transport accidents; among men, medication periods were associated with a 58% lower risk.
New Jersey's Earned Sick Leave law gives most employees up to 40 hours a year, usable for their own physical or mental health care.

For many New Jersey adults, the commute is a second job: a train that leaves on schedule whether you are on it or not, a transfer that has to connect, a drive whose length changes from day to day. For an adult with ADHD, that daily routine puts steady pressure on exactly the skills ADHD makes harder. This page sets out what the data say about New Jersey commutes, how ADHD can interact with them, and how ADHD care can fit around a commute. It is general information as of October 2026.

How long New Jersey commutes are

The US Department of Energy, summarizing the Census Bureau's 2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates, reports that New York workers averaged 33.2 minutes each way, and that Maryland, New Jersey and the District of Columbia also averaged more than 30 minutes. The national average was about 27 minutes.

Long commutes are a long-standing pattern. A Census Bureau report on 2011 data found that 14.6% of New Jersey workers had "long commutes" of 60 minutes or more each way, behind only New York (16.2%) and Maryland (14.8%), with the New Jersey and Maryland figures not statistically different.

Measure	New Jersey	Comparison	Source
Average one-way commute, 2022 five-year data	Over 30 minutes	About 27 minutes nationally; New York 33.2	DOE summary of Census Table S0801
Workers commuting 60 minutes or more each way, 2011	14.6%	New York 16.2%, Maryland 14.8%	Census Bureau, ACS-20

The data say nothing about ADHD specifically. No study was found that measures commuting among New Jersey adults with ADHD. What follows connects the commute to what is known about ADHD in general.

Where ADHD and a commute collide

The National Institute of Mental Health describes adult ADHD as a persistent pattern of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity that makes it hard to function in at least two areas of life. NIMH says adults with ADHD may find it challenging to stay organized, keep appointments, perform daily tasks or complete large projects, and may be restless or try to do several things at once.

A commute turns those difficulties into daily deadlines. Some ways they can show up:

The departure deadline. Leaving on time depends on estimating how long the morning will take. Running late for a fixed train has a sharper cost than running late to a desk you drive to. The symptoms guide covers this in time blindness and ADHD.
Things left behind. Keys, badge, laptop charger, a parking pass. Forgetting one can cost the whole trip.
Changes in plan. Delays, cancellations and detours call for quick replanning, which can be hard when attention and organization are already stretched.
Long stretches of time. An hour on a train can become productive time or a scroll that leaves you more tired; see ADHD and phone use.

These can be signs worth discussing with a clinician, particularly if they have been present since childhood and show up at home as well as at work. They are not a diagnosis on their own; stress, poor sleep and simply a very long commute can produce some of the same strain.

Driving with ADHD

Many New Jersey commuters drive. A Swedish national registry study published in JAMA Psychiatry in 2014 followed more than 17,000 adults with ADHD. Compared with people without ADHD, men with ADHD had a 47% higher risk and women a 45% higher risk of serious transport accidents (emergency hospital care or death), after adjusting for other factors. Among men, periods on ADHD medication were associated with a 58% lower risk than periods off it; no significant difference was found among women. This is an observational study, so it shows association rather than proof.

Practical points: put the phone out of reach while driving, plan the route before you start, and never take a video visit while driving. New Jersey's rules on driving and ADHD, including medication, are covered in ADHD and driving in New Jersey.

Systems that help on the way to work

These are general habits, not treatment, and none has been tested specifically for New Jersey commuters.

Work backward from the departure time. Set alarms for "start getting ready" and "leave now," not just "wake up."
Pack the night before and keep a short checklist by the door.
Use agency alerts. NJ Transit's website offers sign-up for service alerts and real-time departure and bus tracking tools, so delays reach you before you reach the platform.
Build in a buffer for the transfer or bottleneck that usually goes wrong.
Plan the ride. Decide in advance what the commute is for: a set task, reading, or rest.

If medication is part of treatment, the timing of doses relative to a long commute and a long workday is a question to raise with the prescriber, not something to adjust on your own.

Fitting ADHD care around a commute

Where you are during a video visit matters

Video visits can save a trip, but the clinician must be licensed where you are physically located during the visit. New Jersey's telehealth statute requires a New Jersey license for services provided in New Jersey, and New York's Office of the Professions requires a New York license for a patient located in New York.

Where you are during the visit	Rules that apply
A private room at your workplace in New Jersey	New Jersey's, including its in-person rules for adults on stimulants
A private room at your office in New York	New York's
On a train, bus or ferry, or in a car	Not workable. A visit needs privacy and a stable connection, and the state can change mid-call.

For adults located in New Jersey who are prescribed a Schedule II stimulant through telehealth, P.L.2026, c.40 requires an in-person visit within 30 days of a telehealth first exam, a contact every three months (in person or real-time audio and video), and an in-person visit at least once a year. Federal DEA telemedicine flexibilities run through December 31, 2026. More on the visit schedule is in ADHD follow-up visits in New Jersey, and commuters who work in Manhattan should read ADHD care for New Jersey commuters working in New York City.

Time off for appointments

New Jersey's Earned Sick Leave law requires employers of all sizes to provide up to 40 hours of earned sick leave a year, accrued at one hour for every 30 hours worked, and the state says it can be used to care for your own physical or mental health. Workplace adjustments, such as schedule changes, are a separate question covered in ADHD workplace accommodations in New Jersey.

Practical setup for a visit from work

Book a closed room and test the connection beforehand.
Tell the clinician at the start where you are, and keep it accurate.
Choose one regular location if you can. A steady pattern makes the state rules simpler.
Keep your medication list and questions on your phone so the visit stays short.

Dr. Shershow is a psychiatrist who focuses on adult ADHD and is licensed in New York and New Jersey. Follow-up visits are held by secure video, and you must be physically located in New York or New Jersey for each one. The appointments and telehealth page explains how visits work, and the office will explain how visits are arranged for patients located in New Jersey.

Questions

Does New Jersey really have some of the longest commutes in the US?

Yes. A US Department of Energy summary of 2022 Census data lists New Jersey among the few places, with New York, Maryland and DC, where the average one-way commute topped 30 minutes. The national average was about 27 minutes.

Can I do an ADHD video visit from my office?

Yes, if you have a private room and the clinician is licensed in the state where the office is. An office in New Jersey means New Jersey's rules apply; an office in New York means New York's do.

Can I take a video visit on the train?

It is not a good idea. A visit needs privacy and a stable connection, and on a train between New Jersey and New York your state can change during the call, which affects which license applies.

Is driving riskier for adults with ADHD?

A large Swedish registry study found adults with ADHD had roughly 45% to 47% higher risk of serious transport accidents. Among men, medication periods were associated with lower risk. The study shows association, not proof.

Can I use sick leave for an ADHD appointment in New Jersey?

New Jersey's Earned Sick Leave law lets most employees use their earned sick leave, up to 40 hours a year, to care for their own physical or mental health. Your employer's own policy may also apply.

Sources

This article is general information, not medical or legal advice. Rules and coverage change; check the linked sources for the current position, and speak with a clinician or attorney about your own situation.

ADHD and commuting in New Jersey