Drivers who offer fellow commuters a lift should be given a tax break as part of plans to increase workersā mobility, the think-tank has recommended. The Report identified a āstrong caseā for the Government to encourage the growth of car-sharing.
The On the Move report, says that in a third of local authorities that make up the eight city regions no major employment sites (defined by having 5,000 or more jobs) are within a twenty minute commute by public transport and 80% of these Local Authorities have an unemployment rate above the national average. The think-tank says making it easier for people to travel an extra 20 minutes to a workplace would dramatically increase the job opportunities available.
Having access to a car for an extra 20 minutes of commuting time would give even more options, and the report said:
āCar-sharing, mediated by an app, is lowering the cost of travel for consumers, giving people on low-incomes access to car travel and reducing congestion on the roads. There is a strong case for the Government to incentivise its growth through commuter tax benefits.ā
The report suggested such a policy would have a particular benefit in Birmingham, Leeds, Hull and Blackpool where there was already a higher than average number of car sharers.
The think-tank suggested either allowing employers to give workers travel vouchers to pay for ride-sharing which could be issued before tax, or allowing drivers to keep a portion of their earnings tax-free if they offer people a lift.
Sources: www.policyexchange.org.uk (Report published: 2015/08/17)
