Easy ways to encourage Responsible Car Use
For many people, there is no alternative to using the car but there are plenty of simple steps that can be taken to reduce car usage and limit its negative impacts.
Promote car sharing
Follow the links below to websites run by Regional Transport Partnerships that provide easy to use journey-matching services for many areas in Scotland:
South West Scotland - DGtripshare.com »
South East Scotland - TripshareSestran.com »
Tayside and Central Scotland - Tactranliftshare.com »
North East Scotland - Nestranscarshare.com »
Highlands and Shetland (HITRANS and ZetTrans) - ifyoucareshare.com »
Strathclyde – SPT JourneyShare »
Alternatively, the UK charity Carplus can provide much useful information on Responsible Car Use, including guidance for organisations that wish to promote car sharing or to set up a local car sharing scheme.
SEStran Car Share Guide
To help you encourage car sharing among staff and other users of your sites and premises, South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran) has published a guide to car sharing for employers.
The booklet includes information on how employers can plan, implement and monitor their own car sharing scheme, plus handy checklists, template documents and a troubleshooting manual to help you on your way.
Provide priority parking spaces for car sharers
Reserving prime spots near the building entrance and clearly labelling them 'car share only' will help reward Responsible Car Users and help publicise the possibility of car sharing to everyone who visits your premises.
Provide information on eco-driving
Adopting a more efficient driving style, keeping tyres up to pressure and planning ahead will help save fuel in these days of ever increasing fuel prices and most staff will be very interested to learn how they can save a few pounds.
Eco-driving can also result in safer driving, as drivers are encouraged to anticipate road conditions and drive a little slower than normal.
Why not email the link below to The Energy Saving Trust's Eco-driving test to your colleagues right now?
Cut-and-paste the whole text to make an active link that will take them straight there:
Provide journey planning information
Where there is no alternative to car use, the frustration and high emissions that result from getting caught in heavy traffic can be eased by better planning.
Highlight resources such as the Traffic Scotland website, which gives details of current problem areas and links to public transport alternatives.
The site also has a carbon calculator to compare the road journey with public transport.
Travel Expenses
Consider stipulating that travel expenses should only be considered if there is no realistic/practical public transport alternative, and draw up a company policy to that effect.
