80 per cent of motorists to drive less as car costs rise

New research has indicated that the majority of British motorists will drive less as the cost of running a car increases.

A consumer survey conducted by a price comparison website has shown that 80.4 per cent of car owners will make efforts to drive less as the cost of petrol, tax, car insurance and other auto-related costs rise.

Only 19.1 per cent of drivers polled said that rises in the cost of running a car would not affect their driving habits.

A further 69.5 per cent of drivers told the finance portal that they felt as though their car insurance premiums had "risen dramatically" over the past five years.

Only 4.2 per cent of drivers felt the cost of their car insurance cover had dropped over the past five years, while 7.1 per cent said that the cost of their premiums had not changed.

The news has led finance experts to express concern that attempts to ease the cost of driving do not go far enough, and will not help to keep motorists on the road.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osbourne recently announced a 1p cut in fuel duty which should mean motorists will pay less at the pumps, now and in the near future.

However, government reforms to control petrol pricing based on market value rather than inflation and changes to vehicle taxation have provoked criticism from green and consumer groups.

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 08:37:00 GMT