Drivers Cut Mileage to Cut Costs
Posted on 13 Jun 2012
Drivers reduce car use as motoring costs bite
Six out of ten drivers are reducing the journeys they make in their cars due to the rising costs of motoring.
In a survey by specialist insurance broker Adrian Flux Insurance Services, 60 per cent of those questioned said they were using their car less than before after being hit hard in the wallet by the escalating price of keeping a car on the road.
Figures from the 2010 Department of Transport’s National Travel Survey had already revealed that the average number of trips made per year had fallen to its lowest level since the 1970s.
On average, drivers make 960 trips a year compared to 1,086 in 1997, a large fall of 12 per cent, despite the fact that the number of households with access to a car increased by 13 per cent between 1985 and 2010.
Some of the decrease in use of the family car is attributed to internet shopping, removing the need to visit out-of-town shopping centres, but the soaring price of petrol from an average of 78p per litre of unleaded in January 2001 to more than 1.42p in 2012 has left many motorists stranded.
Fuel prices have risen by almost 50 per cent in just three years and car insurance premiums have rose by an average of 16.4 per cent last year.
The higher motoring costs have hit customers at a time when consumers are being squeezed by the rising cost of living and static wages.
Gerry Bucke, general manager at Flux, said the survey of 1,000 motor insurance customers revealed that people were looking at ways to cut down the cost of running a car.
“Motorists are struggling to cope with the impact of high living costs which means they are choosing to make less journeys in order to make ends meet,” he said.
“With the average family having only £25 a week to spend on petrol after bills are met, it’s clear to see why journeys are being reduced and people are spending less time in their cars.
“Now, more than ever, it’s vital to make sure your car insurance is working for you. Our team of specialist advisers speak to dozens of insurance companies to make sure they can find you the very best deal on the market.”
