MOTORISTS are being encouraged to cut down their fuel costs and reduce congestion by registering online with the first public car-sharing scheme in Kent.

Kent County Council is launching two on-line schemes for the county – kentcarshare and kentschoolrun.

Kentcarshare matches drivers and passengers online with those who do similar journeys, to share driving costs and reduce congestion.

Kentschoolrun is dedicated specifically to helping parents tackle school run congestion.

The car-share scheme has already been tested using KCC’s own staff and those of eight local authorities in Kent as well as at BAE Systems, Jacobs Babtie, the University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University, and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trusts.

An advertising campaign was launched on Tuesday with a series of roadside signs along congested routes and posters on the back of buses, encouraging motorists to sign up.

Drivers or passengers can join the kentcarshare scheme for free and find out more by visiting www.kent.gov.uk/carshare

The school-run scheme requires registration by the head teacher of the school. Already, 16 schools across the county have joined up.

They include: Boughton Monchelsea Primary, Coxheath Primary, Madginford Park Infants, Bearsted, and the Astor of Hever School, Maidstone;

Tunstall Primary School and Sittingbourne Community College in Sittingbourne; Riverhead Infants School in Sevenoaks and Slade Primary School in Tonbridge.

KCC points out that as well as assisting parents, the scheme could benefit children by helping them develop friendships with others in their area.

The service is being offered free to the first 100 schools to enter.