6 Advantages and Disadvantages of Carpooling

With traffic and air pollution becoming a bigger problem in most countries today, carpooling is a practice that has become more popular. It works by sharing your ride with other persons or by riding in a vehicle of someone else so you can travel together from your homes to your offices or schools. The individuals you will share a ride with live near you so your route is a similar one. Despite its practicality, there are still some people who are not that open about carpooling because of some disadvantages.

List of Advantages of Carpooling

1. It helps you save.
Carpooling helps you save money, time, and the environment. Since you don’t have to use your car all the time, you can cut down on gasoline, maintenance, and toll and parking expenses. Additionally, there will be less cars on the road, and this lessens air pollution caused by carbon emissions.

2. It provides more convenience.
If you’re not the designated driver, you can take advantage of the ride and use the free time to prepare for a presentation, plan your day, or eat breakfast on the go. Carpools can also use special lanes in some places, so you can avoid more congested roads. There are also some designated parking spaces for vehicles used for carpooling, making it easier to park.

3. It is a way to socialize.
Since you’ll be sharing a ride, you can make new acquaintances and get to know your carpoolmates better. This is especially helpful if you travel with your workmates or neighbors.

List of Disadvantages of Carpooling

1. You won’t have much freedom or flexibility with your schedule and activities.
Because there are several people traveling together, you usually have to leave at the same time. So if you want to do errands, go out for lunch, or have other plans after work, it will be more difficult to do these since you have a whole bunch of people to consider. Aside from that, if one person is running late, everyone’s schedule will be affected, so being time conscious is very important.

2. You won’t have much privacy.
If you like to spend your travel time meditating or just being alone with your thoughts, that will be pretty impossible when you’re in a car with a handful of other people. Aside from that, when someone is sick, there is a high chance you might become ill too.

3. The designated driver is responsible for his passengers.
In case you get into an accident, the responsibility lies most heavily on the driver. There is also additional pressure on the driver because that person has to make sure everyone gets to their destination on time and safely.

If you are someone who doesn’t have a fixed work schedule or prefers to have flexibility when traveling from and to your house, then a carpool may not be for you. However, if you want to avoid public transportation and not having to drive to work every day, then carpooling is the perfect solution.