Cheaper

• Fuel for one car is cheaper than fuel for several cars, and passengers can all chip in when filling the tank.
  
  

Decreased Congestion

• Fewer cars on the road corresponds to less traffic, which can reduce psychological stress and increase free time, particularly for commuters.
  
  

Less Road Deterioration

• Pavement breaks down quicker the more it is driven on. Better roads lead to less damage to autos from potholes and fewer tax dollars going toward road repair.
  
  

Air Quality

• Autos emit pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide. The Environmental Protection Agency states that driving a car is probably the typical citizen's biggest polluting daily action. Carpooling reduces this pollution.
  
  

Social

• Increasing interaction between friends, neighbors and co-workers is a byproduct of sharing rides. This can increase the sense of connectedness within a community.
  
  

Considerations

• A 1996 study published in Social Psychology Quarterly on the first carpool lane in Europe found that "solo drivers exhibited a weaker preference for carpooling after the establishment of a carpool lane."