'Drivers give up motoring' as costs rise

Date: 6/7/2011

Some Britons are being driven off the road as a result of the increasing costs linked to keeping and running a vehicle.

Research by Sainsbury's Car Insurance found that over the past 12 months, 1.3 million motorists have given up driving because they can no longer afford to do it.

In addition, 76 per cent of Britons have opted to alter their habits while behind the wheel in an attempt to keep costs to a minimum.

This has included 26 per cent of drivers no longer filling up their fuel tanks to the maximum level in favour of purchasing petrol or diesel of a specific value, such as £20 or £50 at a time.

Meanwhile, 45 per cent of people are driving less and seven per cent have opted to carpool.

In addition, one-tenth of respondents have downsized their motor in favour of one that is cheaper to run.

And it is not only the cost of maintaining a vehicle that is rising, but also the expense of insuring it.

Indeed, the Transport Committee is set to revaluate the growing price of UK motor cover premiums.

Committee Chair Louise Ellman said: "There is mounting evidence that the insurance industry itself is part of the problem."

Posted by Mary Treen