• BUMPER CARS

• I LIKE DRIVING IN MY CAR… (ON MY OWN)

• HARD DAYS LIGHT
• ANIMAL TRAGIC
• FUEL’S GOLD
• SEEING ‘RED’ OVER HIGH FUEL COSTS
• DRIVING “CONDITIONS”
• MANY HAPPY RETURNS?
• KICKING THE CO2 HABIT
• ‘GREEN’ FINGERS
• FROM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TO GROUND TRAFFIC CONTROL
• CULTURE SHOCK
• DON’T DRIVE DROWSY
• ‘FOLLOW THAT STAR!’
• PULLING POWER
• The Darling Budget of March - 08
• Courtesy Cars - March 08
• Green Survey - Feb 08
• New congestion charge angers industry - Feb 08
• Midlands Excellence Award win - Jan 2008

I LIKE DRIVING IN MY CAR… (ON MY OWN)

Despite it being heralded as a quick means to save fuel costs, parking fees and reduce carbon emissions- as well as getting to know your work mates better, fleet drivers enjoy their own space too much to want to car share, according to research by Masterlease.

Indeed, regardless of the obvious environmental and fuel saving benefits, 55 per cent of drivers would say ‘no’ to car sharing if they had a choice. In fact, of those 55 per cent who would not consider car sharing, three out of four respondents admitted that they would rather make up an excuse than say yes to a lift share request.

The main reason for preferring to travel alone was drivers wanting to listen to the radio during their journey, followed closely by people liking the flexibility of their own transport and the belief or excuse that no-one lived near enough to them to make it worthwhile.

Nearly seventy per cent of people who took part in the survey also admitted that they felt their driving changed with passengers in the car, but opinion was split on whether the effect on their driving was positive or negative.

 41 per cent reported feeling that they drove less confidently, whilst 47 per cent felt that the effect was positive because they ended up driving more conscientiously.

Of those that felt that having passengers in the car had a positive on their driving, more than 50 per cent said that this was because they slowed down and 41 per cent said that it was because they drove more carefully.

Clive Forsythe, head of marketing and sales at Masterlease, said: “It is intriguing that respondents described driving more slowly as both positive and negative. For some it is probably a very positive consequence to have passengers in the car as they are more conscientious, but others felt that it cramped their usual driving style.”

Nearly half said that their driving changed the most when it was a work colleague or their boss in the car with them.

Forsythe concludes: “The results of this survey are really interesting as they show that we tend to drive more carefully with others in the car. People possibly worry about others judging their driving and so slow down and are much more careful. However, people report that they would still rather travel alone despite the obvious fuel-saving advantages as well as safety benefits. These results will hopefully open the debate on car sharing and highlight not only the cost saving and environmental benefits, but also the safety advantages.”

Ends