Official figures show record prices are driving Britons off the road

Sky-high petrol prices are driving cash strapped Britons off the road.

Compelling new evidence from the ­Department of Transport shows millions of drivers are cutting back their mileage.

Total traffic levels this spring fell by one per cent on the same period last year.

But with drivers in rural areas hurt most by rocketing fuel prices, traffic on country roads slumped by 5.2 per cent, heavy goods traffic fell by 4.4 per cent and the category covering motorbikes, buses and coaches showed a massive19.2 per cent reduction.

With a litre of unleaded now costing 139.39p a litre on average, fuel campaigners fear prices could soon hit April’s peak of 142.48p a litre.

The latest rises come as the Office of Fair Trading orders an ­inquiry into how oil firms set their pump prices.

The Department of Transport figures show traffic volumes between April and June fell to 74.7billion miles, down one per cent on the same period last year.

Sunday Mirror motoring expert Quentin Willson, one of the leaders of the campaign group FairFuelUK, said the figures ­demonstrated the need for Chancellor George Osborne to slash fuel duty – currently 60 per cent of the pump price – to ease the pain of Britain’s 33 million drivers.

He said: “The Government has to recognise that the huge cost of filling our cars and vans has contributed to the recession.

“The first thing the Treasury must do is to bin the 3p tax hike planned for January and listen to FairFuelUK’s economic research, that shows a significant cut in fuel duty will stimulate growth and create jobs.”

Since the beginning of July petrol has shot up by more than 8p a litre.

The AA’s Luke Bosdet said: “Vulnerable motorists like pensioners and youngsters trying to find work are being priced off the roads, and those on low incomes and in rural areas are worst affected.”

Mirror

7 Comments on "Official figures show record prices are driving Britons off the road"

Kenz300 on Thu, 13th Sep 2012 12:34 pm 



The price of oil is going up and family transportation budgets are being squeezed.

We need to end the oil monopoly on transportation fuels. A monopoly is only good for the monopoly and not good for the consumer. Bring on the electric, flex-fuel, hybrid, CNG, LNG and hydrogen fueled vehicles. We need a choice at the pump.

Biofuels can now be made from waste or trash. It is time to begin converting landfills to produce local fuel and local jobs. This is much more sustainable than burying the trash.

James A. Hellams on Thu, 13th Sep 2012 3:58 pm 



In response to Kenz300, get back to the trains!

Trains are the MOST energy efficient, and the MOST energy flexible modes of transportation on the planet!

Trains, also, are the ONLY means of transportation capable of going coast to coast NONSTOP WITHOUT BURNING ONE DROP OF OIL FOR ENERGY! This they can do through electrification of all trackage.

armaggedon51 on Thu, 13th Sep 2012 4:33 pm 



It seems to be a pattern emerging in all countries now. Drivers asking their governments to lower the gas taxes to compensate for the higher price. Sounds good on paper but for all those governments strapped in huge debts and starving for more money to continue funding their services, it’s a bad idea. In the medium term, they also will have no choice but to cut spending on social programs, maintenance, utilities etc.. which end up making the situation worse. There wont be any money left either for public transportation projects.

AgentR11 on Thu, 13th Sep 2012 6:10 pm 



bicycle
find one
sit on it
go where you want on a bag of cookies

DC on Thu, 13th Sep 2012 6:31 pm 



3 Cheers for demand destruction! Now we just need similar prices here in N.A. Gas is allready over $6.00 per imp, gallon in Canada, and nearly $7.00 in some places. The US however, as per its policy of subsidized gas for both drivers and its oil cartel producers, lags far behind at the ridiculously low level of $~4.00. But well see $5-$10 for the US of terror soon enough.

I dont really notice though, since I use my bike to get around and dont spend 1000’s of dollars a year poisoning the environment. Trains of course, are not an option for 99% of North Americans, and no plans to change that are on the horizon, so long as the oil companies control N.A. govts.

James A. Hellams on Fri, 14th Sep 2012 12:18 am 



In response to DC, you are probably correct.

The government will keep on decimating the rail service until it is too late.

It will take decades to build the network of rail services we need to survive the end of the oil age. Because of this, the end of the oil age will mean the end of aviation and highways; because they will NEVER be able to function without oil for energy; leaving us with no rail alternative to step in to the void.

ONLY rail transportation can function completely without oil.

WHEN the aviation and highway transportation system collapses, the entire nation will collapse with them.

When the nation collapses, the toll in human suffering WILL be TRULY horrific.

Kenz300 on Fri, 14th Sep 2012 3:24 pm 



The price of oil is rising.

As family budgets get squeezed we will all walk a little, more, ride a bicycle a little more and take mass transit a little more. Trains can be a efficient way to travel and to haul goods. Too bad Republicans in Congress want to eliminate all fund for public transportation. The top 1% can ride in their limos and fly their private jets, the rest of us will be walking or riding our bicycles.