Smarter travel could cut £10 billion commuting bill
Commuting by car costs £10 billion per year on fuel alone, according to Work Wise UK and the AA which revealed the figure yesterday (May, 18) as part of ‘smarter travel day’.
The day, organised by smart working campaigner, Work Wise UK, highlights how working practices, such as working from home and flexible working, and alternative ways of travelling can cut the cost of commuting and reduce emissions and congestion.
Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK, said: “In a tough economic climate we must do all we can to cut the massive cost of commuting. Not only is it hitting people’s wallets, but Britain is also losing billions in lost productivity through time wasted sitting in traffic.
“The internet and the mobile communications revolution provide an alternative to travelling every day to a main place of work.
“Working from home, holding meetings virtually and cycling for shorter journeys, are all ways that can help save money and the environment.”
The UK’s 18 million driving commuters on average drive 2,740 miles per year, according to the AA.
Edmund King, the AA president, said: “In the credit crunch we need to get smarter about the way we travel as car commuting costs some £10 billion per year. We should also consider whether we need to travel at all.
“Three hundred AA employees are saving 90,000 litres of fuel or 620,000 miles commuting each year by working from home. Our employees are saving valuable time and money by working from home.
“In transport terms home working cuts out the commute, reducing congestion and carbon emissions. Hopefully other companies will follow the AA lead to put more workers on the superhighway rather than the actual highway now that the technology is much more affordable. We can also be smarter about walking, cycling, using public transport or car sharing when appropriate. I frequently ‘dial in’ to meetings rather than ‘drive in’.”
The Government is encouraging flexible working, such as home working, staggered working times and compressed working weeks, to help provide a better work-life balance. But it also allows people to avoid commuting journeys or peak travel times.
Work Wise UK, a not-for-profit organisation, promotes smarter working practices, such as flexible, remote and mobile working, and working from home. This is the fourth year that Work Wise UK has run Work Wise Week,
which ran from Tuesday, May 12 to Monday, May 18, demonstrating the benefits of smarter working. Supporters of the initiative include BT, the TUC, TfL, CBI and the British Chambers of Commerce.
Further information about Work Wise UK can be found online at www.workwiseuk.org.
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