If you hate your commute to work, it's no wonder: longer commutes are associated with lower job satisfaction, lower leisure time satisfaction, and reduced mental health. If working from home or public transportation aren't options for you, try carpooling instead. Sharing rides with other people in your neighborhood or office has a number of benefits — both for you and for the environment.
1. Cut Your Carbon Footprint
Every time you get in your car and drive, you burn fossil fuels and emit greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere — a major cause of climate change. Carpooling helps take cars off the road and can reduce these emissions significantly. If you commute to work with just one other person, you could reduce your carbon footprint by 2,000 pounds each year. Add more people to your carpool, and the benefits for the environment multiply.
2. Reduce Air Pollution
While greenhouse gasses have long-term environmental effects, your car also lowers air quality in the short term. Auto emissions make smog worse and contribute to poor air quality, particularly in the summer months. Getting cars off the road helps keep the air cleaner, which can help reduce the risk of respiratory distress for vulnerable populations.
Pro tip: You can also reduce emissions by making sure your car is running as efficiently as possible.
3. Reduce Noise Pollution
Reducing the number of cars on the road also cuts down on the noise they make. Living within 50 feet of a highway means being exposed to up to 80 decibels of sound per day, which is above the level recommended to protect against hearing loss. Less traffic means less noise, which benefits people in the neighborhoods you drive through on your way to the office.
4. Save Money
If you take turns driving to work with someone else, you can cut your costs in half — or even more if you split duties among three or four drivers. You'll put less wear and tear on your vehicle, which can help your car last longer and keep you from having to repair or replace it. You'll also be able to split costs with your fellow travelers, including gas, tolls, and parking fees.
5. Save Time
You won't get to work any faster by carpooling, but you do gain back some time in your day. Whenever you're not driving, you can use that extra time to check your email, work ahead on projects, or catch up on important reading. If you prefer to keep your work at the office, you could use your extra time to browse social media, read a book, or take a nap.
6. Lower Your Stress
Driving is surprisingly stressful, even when traffic is light and the weather is good. When you take turns, you cut your exposure to stress behind the wheel. Lowering your stress can help you avoid health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity, and diabetes.
7. Streamline Your Commute
In many cities, carpoolers get to take advantage of special rules, most notably the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane. These portions of the highway are only open to cars with more than one person, so you can often glide by frustrated single drivers who are stuck in rush hour traffic.
Get Ready to Carpool
Of course, your carpool will only be a success if you pair up with safe drivers. To brush up on your driving skills, sign up for one of our defensive driving courses today.
Updated 12/14/23
