Responsible Car Use
With 67% of all journeys to work in Scotland being by car, and with the majority of those journeys being driver-only, there are huge potential benefits for organisations of all kinds in promoting car sharing and eco-driving.
Why encourage Responsible Car Use?
Cars account for 78% of Scotland's road traffic. If more people use their cars responsibly, we can:
- ease congestion
- reduce noise pollution
- cut exhaust emissions
- improve our health
For businesses and other organisations, developing a culture of responsible car use can help:
- lower organisational transport costs
- reduce the need for expensive car parks
- demonstrate commitment to protecting the environment
Meanwhile, individuals can benefit from:
- reduced fuel costs
- lower wear and tear on personal vehicles
- less stressful and more sociable journeys
back to topEasy ways to encourage Responsible Car Use
For many people, there is no alternative to using the car but there's still plenty that can be done to reduce the negative impact of car use.
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:
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's 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. Highlight the fact that eco-driving is also safe driving.
Why not email the link below to your colleagues right now?
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.
Responsible Car Use & your Travel Plan
Tailored to the specific needs of your organisation, staff, clients and visitors, Travel Plans are integrated packages of measures that you design to promote more sustainable transport choices for your staff, visitors and suppliers.
Formalising a Travel Plan for your organisation will help you get the maximum benefit from encouraging alternative ways to travel.
"I'd rather not drive but it's the only way I can get to work," says Iain. "The company's had a lift-share scheme for ages but it wasn't until I looked in my rear-view and saw Frank from accounts stuck behind me in crawling traffic that the penny dropped. We only live about a mile apart." Would Iain go back to driving alone? "Not a hope! I've almost halved my fuel costs and the company now has reserved spaces for lift-share vehicles. I like the social aspect of sharing lifts too." Iain saves even more now he's picked up on the eco-driving tips that arrived with his wage slip and is looking for a more efficient car. "It's partly money, but I like to know I'm doing what I can for the environment."