New year – new chance to win fuel with Carsharedevon

Commuters have another chance to win a tank of fuel if they start off the New Year by signing up to carsharedevon.com. Following the success of a similar competition last year to encourage people to join the scheme, Devon County Council is launching a second prize draw. Anyone who registers with the website before 28 February will be entered to win a tank of fuel up to the value of £100.

Carsharedevon is a free service that allows people in Devon and across the South West to find others to share their journey, either taking turns with the driving, or giving someone a lift in exchange for a contribution to the fuel costs. It is commissioned by Devon County Council, in partnership with Plymouth and Torbay Councils.

More than 350 people signed up during the previous competition, which ran in October and November. The lucky winner was Jayde Kirby, who works at the University of Exeter and shares with three others from Plymouth and the South Hams.

She said: “I joined Carsharedevon in October last year when I was offered a new job at the University of Exeter and needed to commute daily from my home in Plymouth. I was very concerned about the fuel costs of an 80-mile round trip, five days a week so I signed up to the Carsharedevon website a few weeks before I started my new position.

“I soon got replies from people also travelling the Plymouth-Exeter route and from there quickly came across my three car share buddies who were already sharing. It was really handy to find people who work at the University as it’s just so convenient. We are also eligible for the benefits of the new University Car Share scheme including sharing the cost of a parking permit and making use of priority spaces.”

Jayde and her car share group are each saving well over £100 per month or £1,200 per year.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: “Record prices at the pumps are really hitting drivers hard, so now more than ever it’s important that we encourage people to consider car sharing. Car sharing can be a New Year’s resolution which could help save you hundreds of pounds and make your commute more enjoyable.

“As well as that, you’ll also be doing your bit for the environment and saving yourself the stress of having to drive every day, so it makes perfect sense to sign up and find a lift share. I would encourage everyone to go online and join for free.”

The carsharedevon website features a simple online calculator to work out your potential savings, just by entering your travel details such as mileage and how often you drive.

The University of Exeter launched a suite of car sharing incentives in November 2012. Benefits include only having to purchase one permit per car share team, preferential car sharing spaces and the assurance of an emergency travel home fund should a lift fail in the event of an emergency or unforeseen problem. More details of the University scheme can be found at www.ex.ac.uk/carsharing

For more information go to www.carsharedevon.com