Company News from yesinsurance

31 July 2007 Insurer Launches Lift Sharing Scheme

As part of its drive to encourage greener motoring, insurance provider yesinsurance.co.uk today launches a campaign to encourage motorists to share their cars.

Details of major car sharing organisations in the UK are being listed on the insurer's website at www.yesinsurance.co.uk/car-insurance/car-links.html

The concept of car sharing enables drivers to find passengers who are making the same journey as themselves, enabling them to share the journey.

It is designed to reduce the number of vehicles on the road which carry only a driver, leading to decreases in both road traffic and CO2 emissions.

"The latest figures from Defra show that road transport accounts for 22% of the UK’s CO2 emissions, and it is vitally important that moves are made to reduce this through better use of vehicles," said Paul Purdy, of yesinsurance.co.uk.

He continued: "Research conducted by the Department of Transport in 2005 indicates that 61% of cars on the road do not carry any passengers. Where commuting was concerned, the figure was even higher, at 85%. Lift sharing is designed to help reduce these figures."

Lift sharing will not normally affect the insurance status of the driver, so long as costs are simply shared between the driver and passengers. The driver must not make a profit from the journey, otherwise this would classify the ride as a taxi journey, for which a taxi licence is usually required.