Metromile partners with Oregon Department of Transportation for 2015 Oregon Drive Less Challenge

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2015 Oregon Drive Less Challenge is back Oct. 5-18 and Metromile, the nation's only pay-per-mile car insurance provider, has joined the challenge as a top sponsor. The Oregon Department of Transportation and its partners, alongside Metromile, are encouraging Oregon residents and those that commute into Oregon to drive less to not only help participants get healthy, relax and save money but to also benefit the state of Oregon with better air, less traffic and reduced emissions. The goal of this year's 14-day challenge is for participants to pedal their way, walk, share the ride and tap into transit and the train, plus telework and log trips equal to one million vehicle miles.

Metromile is no stranger to supporting those who drive less. In fact, Metromile's pay-per-mile car insurance model is the ideal solution for the 65 percent of drivers who drive less than 10,000 miles per year. A recent report conducted by Metromile and Yale University showed there are major benefits to dialing back the miles.

Metromile and Jim Levinsohn at Yale University recently released a report showing that Metromile test drivers who used Metromile's smart driving app to measure mileage and later switched to per-mile insurance ended up driving 6% less after the switch. If everyone reduced their mileage by this seemingly small amount there could be significant impact on our economy and the environment including:

• There would be 150 billion fewer miles driven
• We could save $6 billion on road maintenance and $26 billion in accident-related costs
• Fewer cars on the road means fewer accidents and traffic backups- we could save 2,400 lives
• There would be 60 million metric tons less of CO2 emissions

Through its Drive Less Challenge, Oregon is playing a big role in creating a brighter future. Last year's Oregon Drive Less Challenge exceeded the effort's million vehicle mile reduction goal. Oregonians across the state logged bike, walking, carpool, vanpool, transit and train trips, plus teleworking, equal to 1,082,491 vehicle miles and 749,024 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, plus saved over 38,507 gallons of gasoline and $286,091 in fuel costs by not driving alone. Metromile is looking forward to continuing to build the momentum.

For more information about Metromile, visit metromile.com or follow Metromile on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. To join this year's Oregon Drive Less Challenge, sign up for free at DriveLessConnect.com. Then, from Oct. 5 through Oct. 18, log bus, train, bike, carpool, vanpool and walking trips for work, errands or play, plus teleworking, for the chance to win prizes.

About Metromile

Metromile is revolutionizing car insurance through technology. By offering affordable, transparent pricing based on the miles you actually drive, data to optimize how you use your car, and instant access to detailed vehicle diagnostics, Metromile is transforming car insurance — and car ownership — to be more intelligent, seamless, and accessible than ever before. Metromile is expanding across the US, and currently empowering drivers in California, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington. Metromile is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit metromile.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151002/273528-INFO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/metromile-partners-with-oregon-department-of-transportation-for-2015-oregon-drive-less-challenge-300153567.html

SOURCE Metromile