Motorists KO'd by rising fuel

More than one in five motorists have been driven off the road in the past year by rising petrol prices.

Pudsey-based Green Flag claim the cost of running a car is putting more of us off being behind the wheel.

Research also suggests that 1.3 million have quit driving with many motorists saying they've changed the way they drive - either by using the car less, sharing or even buying a smaller, cheaper one.

In some cases, people have ditched the car completely, switching to motorbikes or even walking.

Petrol prices have continued to climb, with prices hitting an average 131.61p per litre for unleaded compared with averages of 111.49p in 2010.

Green Flag found that 14 per cent of people in their survey have stopped using their car and seven per cent have swapped their cars for motorbikes.

Meanwhile, 58 per cent of drivers have reduced their speed to conserve fuel and 14 per cent now end up walking to their destination more often than they drive.

Henry Topham, head of Green Flag, told BCB news: "Since January, there has been a 40 per cent rise in fuel rated call outs for us. Just showing that its starting to take the pinch on household incomes.

"For many drivers, owning a vehicle is a necessity rather than a luxury, so they are being forced into driving more fuel economically or switching to more fuel efficient modes of transportation in the face of rising prices."




Henry Topham - Green Flag by BCB News