| With congestion continuing to rise on Britain's roads a | | | | fact likely to reduce it, particularly with the decline in fuel |
| number of solutions have been proposed, raising tax | | | | consumption. Compared with the prospect of |
| being the main one. However, every day in the UK | | | | continuing to dramatically increase taxes on motorists, |
| there are over 10 million empty seats on the roads. | | | | many of whom have no choice but to use their cars, |
| Worse still, the vast majority of these empty seats are | | | | car sharing doesn't stand a chance. |
| during the rush hour, with average occupancy for | | | | The benefits of car sharing are also often vastly |
| commuting only 1.2. The solution appears to be simple - | | | | underestimated. Car sharing does hugely reduce petrol |
| car sharing. This is further supported by recent | | | | consumption for the individuals involved and if |
| research which found that over 50% of commuters | | | | promoted in a large way then congestion and pollution |
| would car share on their way to work if they could | | | | could be reduced significantly. Other benefits include |
| find someone suitable to share with. | | | | reduced parking problems and the lower mileage done |
| Car sharing has often been talked about but only ever | | | | by each car means that they depreciate less rapidly. |
| considered to be a small scale solution, unlikely to have | | | | However, one statistics that is overlooked is the |
| a significant effect on congestion levels. Again, the | | | | impact of car sharing on road safety. The number of |
| evidence suggests otherwise. A 25% increase in car | | | | speeding fines handed out in the UK in 2005 reached |
| occupancy levels would result in the number of | | | | the 2 million mark. With road safety being of such |
| commuting cars on the road falling by 21%. Put another | | | | apparent importance the statistic that the likelihood of |
| way, if everyone shared a journey to work just once | | | | having an accident is reduced by 50% if there are two |
| a week then the effect would be similar. With over | | | | or more people in the car should make the relevant |
| 50% of people happy to try car sharing out this could | | | | authorities sit up and take note. The way to increase |
| be an attainable target. | | | | road safety is to promote car sharing. The added fact |
| So why has car sharing failed to take off in a big | | | | that it is also makes driving cheaper for the individual, |
| way? Put simply, a lack of funding. Without the money | | | | and reduces congestion and pollution, should |
| to raise awareness of car sharing and the ways to go | | | | encourage people to take car sharing seriously. |
| about finding someone to share with, the concept of | | | | Becoming involved in car sharing is very |
| car sharing is always going to be doomed to being an | | | | straightforward. Liftshare.org was established in 1997 |
| insignificant solution. | | | | and now has over 130,000 members one million |
| Why hasn't the funding been provided by the | | | | journeys registered. It's also free to join, with a simple |
| government, particularly in light of the many reports | | | | registration form to complete before you can register |
| that have come out over recent years highlighting the | | | | a journey and begin searching for travel companions. |
| potential of car sharing? One can only speculate but to | | | | Whether you're traveling to work, a festival or a |
| governments the idea of car sharing isn't so attractive. | | | | sporting event car sharing is possible. |
| It generates no additional government revenue and is in | | | | |