More than a million people have stopped driving last year because of the cost of fuel and the recession, a study claims.
The study, by Sainsbury’s Car Insurance, suggests one in 30 motoring drivers have given up their cars over the past 12 months. This is because the average car owner is now spending around £1,720.69 per year on fuel, which is a 22.9% year-on-year increase.
In the study, 26% admitted not filling their petrol tanks while 45% (16.5 million road users) were driving less often whilst 10% had downgraded their car for one that is cheaper to run. The research also revealed that 7% have started to car share.
The average cost of petrol is currently 136.07p a litre, according to most recent figures from the AA. This is down 0.86p on the mid-May average but higher than the 135.75p-a-litre figure on June 5.
AA President Edmund King said: “Clearly, petrol costing more than 130p a litre is more than a significant number of drivers can afford, but modern society depends on a high level of mobility.
“With alternative transport either being cut back or becoming more expensive, the AA thinks most drivers will hold on to their cars.”
He continued: “They may leave the more thirsty car in the garage or at the top of the drive, but families cling on to the hope that somehow things will get better.”
MJP Motoring Solicitors
Jul, 05, 2011