Action urged over 38 million empty car seats

AGAINST a background of economic turmoil, employers and employees should look to car sharing to cut costs, say a leading industry body and a sustainable transport group.  They also say that it can dramatically boost your social life.

The advice comes during Commute Smart Week, which is organised by Work Wise UK, a campaigning group for smarter working practices.  The week highlights how smarter working and commuting practices, such as home working, flexible working and car sharing, can avoid the staggering financial, environmental and social cost of commuting.  The event’s car sharing theme is backed by Liftshare.com, a website supporting high vehicle occupancy.

Phil Flaxton, chief executive, Work Wise UK, said:- “Congestion is a massive drag on the British economy, and for commuters. Yet there are 38 million empty car seats on the road every day. This is economic and environmental insanity.  Just filling fraction of these seats will take many cars off the road, reducing congestion, emissions and travel costs.”

By just raising car occupancy levels by 2%, would cut national car mileage by around 3 billion miles, according to Liftshare.  The CBI estimates that road congestion alone costs the UK economy some £20 billion per year.

Cecilia Bromley-Martin, Liftshare’s spokesperson, said:- “Encouraging car sharing makes great business sense. Not only does it save money directly, it also helps provide a pleasant working environment and a more contented workforce, boosting productivity.  Also many great friendships are made through car sharing schemes.”

One company that has benefited from car sharing is investment management company, Invesco. Currently, it has 207 of their 550-strong workforce car-sharing. It is a Liftshare scheme, administered and promoted by Nick Donaldson and Tracey Ellis.

Nick explains:- "From a business point of view the car share scheme works really well for everyone. The company has better utilisation of space: for example, we were able to sell off part of the site previously used as an overflow car park.  Staff turnover has also dropped since the scheme was implemented, as we found that people were much more willing to join and stay by having a car share scheme.

Overall the figures show that we have reduced the number of cars coming onto site by roughly 12% in a little under 3 years, and hugely increased the proportion of those journeys that are multiple-occupancy."

Company parking costs can be considerable.

The Department for Transport said earlier this year that each car parking space cost business on average about £400 nationwide, £2,000 in outer London, rising to £6,000 in central London. For more information about lift sharing visit the website liftshare.com.

7th Global Lung Cancer Awareness Month: 1 - 30 November 2008

38,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK each year. Lung cancer is the UK's biggest cancer killer - killing more Britons than leukaemia, breast, prostate and bladder cancer combined.

Global Lung Cancer Awareness Month is organised by a working group including leading cancer charities, health professionals including lung cancer nurses and pharmacists, plus other support groups. The month aims to raise awareness of lung cancer by:-

* Informing and educating the public - particularly those at risk - about the importance of early detection and diagnosis.

* Raising awareness among health professionals, particularly GPs and pharmacists about the possible diagnosis of lung cancer when considering symptoms.

The early signs and symptoms are:-

* A cough that doesn't go away after 2 to 3 weeks
* Worsening of a long-standing cough
* Persistent chest infections
* Coughing blood
* Unexplained persistent breathlessness
* Unexplained persistent tiredness or lack of energy
* Unexplained persistent weight loss
* Persistent chest and / or shoulder pain

These symptoms may not be serious, in which case, there is nothing to lose by getting them checked out. If they are serious, there is everything to gain - diagnosis at an early stage could save your life.

Non-smokers can get lung cancer too, but smoking is still the major cause. The good news is that quitting works. It's never too late to give up, and the sooner you stop the better. Even if you have been smoking for most of your life, your chances of developing lung cancer will be much less if you give up now, whatever your age.

Sue Summerfield & Janet Thompson, Macmillan lung nurses based at Southport and Formby District General Hospital are holding information awareness displays at both Southport and Ormskirk District General Hospitals during November. They are among Macmillan Cancer Support's 184 lung cancer nurses.

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is working with Macmillan Cancer Support for the seventh year running to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of lung cancer, and the importance of early diagnosis.  Eye-catching posters and leaflets, produced by The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Support to highlighting the signs and symptoms of lung cancer and the importance of early diagnosis, are available UK-wide through Somerfield supermarkets, doctors' surgeries, pharmacies, hospitals, smoking cessation services, and libraries - pick up a leaflet to find out more.

Alternatively, anyone wanting more information can call The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation Helpline on 0800 358 7200 or the Macmillan Cancer Line on 0808 808 2020.