Are you leaving the car at home to avoid soaring fuel prices?
Posted by Susannah Mayers
Sales of petrol and diesel in the UK have slumped dramatically this year, as motorists continue to feel the knock-on effects of the recession and rocketing fuel prices.
New figures from the AA suggest that one billion fewer litres of fuel were purchased during the first quarter of 2011, compared with the same period three years ago – before the financial crisis took hold of the economy.
Edmund King, the motoring organisation's president, said that the data showed the "real impact" of record prices at the pump.
"The full impact of higher VAT, unbridled market speculation and a weaker pound on fuel prices and drivers' ability to afford them have been laid bare," he added.
Filling up now costs the average motorist more than £1,700 a year – almost 23 per cent more than last year's estimates.
Next week, campaigners from Fair Fuel UK will lobby the prime minister, David Cameron, to cut fuel duty.
I would be tempted, but there is just no other practical way of travelling for my daily commute. Faced with around 2 hours on public transport or 20 minutes in the car, I opt for a car – and it probably still costs less (at least in fuel costs).
Nope; I don’t live in an area with good public transportation. Here in California everything is way spread out; you gotta drive. It’s almost impossible to get around without a car in the suburbs.
It’s no surprise that some people are deciding to not buy fuel at all and leave the car at home. But like Simon said, some people have no option but to drive (or face a long commute) and therefore have to pay the extra money for fuel.
The car has now been restricted to towing the caravan to our holiday destination. Luckily I am on a bus route and with a special priced ticket and some fellow employess that pass the bus stop I can get to and from work for a lot less money than I normally would. It also does have it’s downfalls in as much that I don’t visit my elderly mother as often as I used to which is really upsetting.