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."
Below some tips on reducing
fuel consumption for the 28% of motorists who don't know how to save on
fuel while driving:
1) Avoid heavy braking and accelerating. Watch the road ahead
and
anticipate when to slow down or stop well in advance
2) Keep your speed down. Your car's handbook will tell you
what the
most fuel-efficient in-town and out-of-town speed is
3) Close windows and sun-roofs to reduce drag
4) Remove excess baggage from the car as heavy loads put more
strain on
a car
5) Switch off or turn down air conditioning and heating
6) Change gear as soon as possible, ideally around 1,500 -
2,500 revs
7) Find the shortest route
8) Share journeys where possible and avoid all unnecessary
trips
