Help to make one less car journey
In a survey we carried out, we found that 1 in 2 drivers have taken steps to use their cars less to help them save on fuel. Another survey revealed that at least 1 in 3 drivers are switching, or planning to switch a car journey for walking, cycling or public transport.1
Using your car less is not going to be possible for everyone, particularly where no real alternative exists. But for many, there are journeys we’re making by car that we probably don’t need to.
After all, the impact of the pandemic has already changed our driving habits, and according to the National Travel Survey, around 50% of car journeys made are under 5 miles, with 25% under 2 miles.2
The first step to driving less is identifying what you can do differently (and it may not be obvious). If it’s a change you can repeat, then that’s even better because the difference it could make on total fuel consumption and emissions from driving can really add up.
The hardest bit is actually making the change. Here are some ways to help you get started!
Why not do the shorter journeys by bike?
With 1 in 2 car journeys being under 5 miles2, summer is the perfect time to hop on two wheels instead. And we're giving away an e-bike a day to help you do just that.
You never know, swapping a short drive for a ride could see you stopping off for an unexpected ice coffee, taking the scenic route home or even pulling in for some time out in a local park. The summer’s yours for the taking when you go by bike.
Commute like a pro with Matt Jones
Share a journey
We’ve teamed up with Liftshare – the UK’s biggest car sharing community – to get even more people and businesses to try lift-sharing.
Sharing a journey with just one person halves the amount of fuel used – saving the drivers and passengers money (Liftshare members save over £1,000 a year3 on average). Fewer cars on the road also means fewer emissions, less traffic and more parking spaces available – so it’s good news for everyone!
Over 700,000 people are already using Liftshare. To help get even more drivers to share journeys during, last summer we offered 500 Nectar points at Esso to everyone who signed up to Liftshare. But the rewards won't stop here as we're busy preparing other offers for people who use Liftshare, so make sure to sign up and be the first to know.
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Unlock the power of lift sharing
Discover the potential of lift sharing and learn how you can make a positive impact by making fewer solo car journeys.
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Lift sharing etiquette
From first impressions to conversation-starters, hear from a seasoned pro on how to get into gear with lift sharing.
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Meet the Lift sharers
Good chat, good snacks, and money saved? Find out why people love sharing lifts up in the UK.
Tackling the school run with HomeRun
A quarter of cars on the road during the morning ‘rush hour’ are doing the school run4. We’ve teamed up with the innovative school transport app HomeRun to help reduce the number of school runs made by car.
HomeRun provides schools with the tools to offer parents more sustainable travel options – whether it’s organising shared minibuses, setting up carpooling or supporting walking, cycling and independent travel.
It also provides a community platform that schools can use to keep parents up to date with the latest information.
The schools already using HomeRun have reduced the number of car journeys made by 25%, and reduced their school commute CO2 footprint by 28%4.
To begin with, we’ve committed to funding 15 test schools on the platform for 3 years, and providing incentives to encourage participation. The aim is to save 300,000 ‘school run’ miles and 100 tons of vehicle CO2 emissions a year at these schools.4,5
Explore sustainable school transport options todayHere’s a thought:
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Shorter journeys
Try not to use your car for shorter journeys like the school run. Even if it's just one day a week, you could start your day with a walk – with some quick win health benefits built in!
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One less drive
Could some journeys be made without the car? Taking public transport or using an e-bike could help you beat the rush hour and get you to your destination quicker.
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Shopping locally
Replacing some of the weekly supermarket car trips with a walk to the local shops is a win-win – you buy quality fresh produce while supporting small businesses.
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Combining trips
If you have to do a series of short trips, use a journey planner to find the most efficient way to make them in one go.
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Car pooling
Especially if the ride is the same, share the car with colleagues to save money and fuel.
Get a chance to win an e-bike today
For your chance to win an e-bike and take summer by the handlebars, click the below and fill in the entry form – good luck!
Sign up for updates on our latest Thoughtful Driving initiatives
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Sign up nowMore about Thoughtful Driving
- Ipsos Cost of Fuel Report, June 2022
- National Travel Survey - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Source: Liftshare
- Source: HomeRun – see: https://www.homerun-app.com Based on an analysis & calculations performed by HomeRun, the emissions reduction calculation uses manufacturer exhaust emissions data. Actual exhaust emissions may vary from manufacturer information due to factors like driving style, vehicle maintenance, weight and previous fuels used.
- HomeRun estimate of potential benefits for 15 schools. Final results may vary and will depend upon factors such as the calculated commute footprint of participating schools, school participation rates etc.
Terms & conditions apply.
The Promoter is [Mobilityways Limited 10-12 St Andrews Street, Norwich, NR2 4AF].
Esso Offer of up to 3,000 Nectar points reward valid 26 June 2024 — 2 October 2024 (the campaign period – both dates included) only.
The up to 3,000 Nectar point reward must be activated through authenticating your Liftshare trip/s on the Mobilityways app, retrieving a unique 6-digit Liftshare member Nectar code from your Liftshare account, entering that unique 6-digit Liftshare member Nectar code correctly on your Nectar app and making a qualifying transaction at a participating Esso branded petrol station.
You must have signed-up for a free Liftshare account, downloaded the Mobilityways app and verified your email to authenticate your Liftshare trip/s. You must also have an active Nectar account and have downloaded the Nectar app.
The unique Liftshare member Nectar codes can be accessed in your Liftshare account once you have authenticated your 1st and 10th Liftshare trips through the Mobilityways app during the campaign period.
The relevant portion of the 3,000 Nectar point reward is issued following the next qualifying transaction that you make at a participating Esso branded petrol station subsequent to entering the correct unique 6-digit Liftshare member Nectar code in the Nectar app.
You will receive 1,000 Nectar points provided that you have authenticated at least one Liftshare trip during the campaign period, correctly entered the unique 6-digit Liftshare member Nectar code from the 1st authenticated Liftshare trip in the Nectar app and made a qualifying transaction at a participating Esso branded petrol station on or before 2nd October 2024. You will receive another 2,000 Nectar points provided that you have already claimed the first 1,000 Nectar points, authenticated at least 10 Liftshare trips during the campaign period, correctly entered the unique 6-digit Liftshare member Nectar code from that 10th authenticated Liftshare trip in the Nectar app and made a further qualifying transaction at a participating Esso branded petrol station on or before 2nd October 2024.
The up to 3,000 Nectar point reward is only available by making qualifying transactions at participating Esso branded petrol stations (excludes Northern Ireland and Tesco branded Esso sites). The qualifying transactions must meet the following criteria — fill up a minimum of 5 litres of fuel or spend a minimum of £5 in-store and pay for the fuel through the Esso app linked to your Nectar account or scan your Nectar card at the till.
Only two Liftshare member Nectar codes can be redeemed per Nectar account for this campaign – one for the 1st Liftshare trip authentication, and another for the 10th Liftshare trip authentication.
Bonus Nectar points will only be awarded to the registered account holder of the Nectar card presented at the time of the qualifying transaction. Bonus Nectar points are non-transferable and there are no cash or prize alternatives available.
Your statutory rights are not affected.
Bonus Nectar points will be awarded within 3 weeks of the relevant qualifying transaction.
An additional 20,000 Nectar points (worth at least £100) will be awarded to the Liftshare member who authenticates the most Liftshare trips during the campaign period (no purchase necessary). If there is a tie for most trips authenticated during the campaign period one winner will be chosen at random from those who have tied. The winner of the 20,000 Nectar points will be selected after the campaign ends on 2nd October 2024 and informed by Liftshare that they have won and with details of how to claim the prize. The 20,000 Nectar points will be awarded within 3 weeks of claiming the prize. The prize of 20,000 Nectar points must be claimed within 48h of being notified or the prize will be forfeited. The Promoter reserves the right to offer any forfeited prize on the same terms to the Liftshare member with the next greatest number of authenticated Liftshare trips during the campaign period.
No responsibility will be taken by the Promoter if Nectar points are not received for any reason and howsoever arising.
Any Nectar collector who has not received the Nectar points indicated within the time frames detailed above should contact Nectar customer care at www.nectar.com/contact
Acceptance of these terms and conditions is a condition of entry. The Nectar terms and conditions available at https://www.nectar.com/about/privacy-and-legal/terms-of-use also apply to this promotion and the use of the Nectar card.
The Promoter’s decision is binding and final on all matters relating to this promotion and no correspondence will be entered into.
The Promoter reserves the right to cancel, suspend or change the promotion at any stage where it becomes necessary to do so (including, but not limited to suspension arising out of non-availability of the Mobilityways app, Nectar app or Esso app or technical failure generally or at a particular site). For the avoidance of doubt, cancellation, termination or suspension by the Promoter of this promotion shall not entitle an entrant to any claim or compensation from the Promoter, Esso or Nectar for any and all losses or damage suffered or incurred by an entrant as a direct or indirect result.