One in three put off car-sharing due to Covid-19

One in three people questioned say they are permanently planning to stop car-sharing, with two in five declaring that giving people a lift to work is now a thing of the past.

The results of the Motorpoint online poll suggest fears over Covid-19 could put pay to the arrangement for a significant minority of people.

Motorpoint is a used car supermarket and its business may benefit from those moving away from car sharing and public transport to fund and drive their own personal vehicle instead.

That would result in passengers returning to public transport or more likely still, considering their fears over contagion, deciding to drive instead, with the potential for increased congestion.

The latest figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show how low traffic levels fell at the start of the lockdown, but also reveal they starting to return to pre-lockdown levels.

During the first full day of lockdown (Tuesday, March 24), car use fell to less than half (44%) of the expected level. Light commercial vehicle (LCV) use stood at 55%, HGV use at 84%.

Three months later and the day after retail outlets were allowed to open for the first time on Monday, June 15, car use had risen, but was still only at 70%. Van use and HGV use had grown to 84% and 92%, respectively.

Mark Carpenter, chief executive officer of Motorpoint, said: “The results of our poll are clearly understandable given Covid-19 and definitely reflect the desire by people to maintain social distancing at all times when outside of their home, whether it’s travelling to work, visiting friends or simply popping to the shops for a loaf of bread and some milk.”