UK motorists willing to pay the price for petrol

With petrol prices bursting through the £1 a litre barrier and expected to reach an all-time high next week, it would be reasonable to assume motorists would be put off driving.

Nevertheless, research by car insurer esure reveals that petrol prices would have to almost double to an extortionate £1.83 to stop drivers reaching for their car keys.

The “carry on pumping” poll commissioned by esure demonstrates that a massive majority of motorists in the UK (55%) would never part with their cars in favour of public transport - regardless of cost.

One in three drivers display an incredible disregard for the amount they fork out for fuel, not monitoring the cheapest petrol prices in their local area, never mind driving the extra mile to get the best budget deal.

The research also reveals that:

37% of motorists will not consider replacing their car with a more fuel-efficient or environmentally friendly car in the next three years.

The vast majority of motorists (79%) haven’t changed their attitude to buying petrol despite the threat of huge price rises.

There are a number of fuel-saving practices that drivers can easily adopt to increase the miles per gallon their car can achieve. But although 72% of drivers do know what to do, they don’t make the effort to put these into practice or monitor their car’s fuel efficiency.

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure, said: “esure’s poll shows that public transport may never overtake people’s preference for their own cars, whatever the cost. Nowadays, cars are clearly seen as a necessity that people refuse to give up. For many people the absence of cheap public transport means a car is essential in their lives and virtually any price will be paid for petrol.

“There are simple ways that motorists can prevent their cars from guzzling up their pennies. Driving steadily and carefully, with no excessive braking or speeding, will not only give you more miles for your money, it could also reduce the likelihood of making a claim on your car insurance.”

esure has devised some tips on reducing fuel consumption for the 28% of motorists who don’t know how to save on fuel while driving:

Avoid heavy braking and accelerating. Watch the road ahead and anticipate when to slow down or stop well in advance
Keep your speed down. Your car's handbook will tell you what the most fuel-efficient in-town and out-of-town speed is
Close windows and sun-roofs to reduce drag
Remove excess baggage from the car as heavy loads put more strain on a car
Switch off or turn down air conditioning and heating
Change gear as soon as possible, ideally around 1,500 – 2,500 revs
Find the shortest route
Share journeys where possible and avoid all unnecessary trips