Recent research shows that high fuel prices have caused an increase in the number of motorists driving on empty and running out of fuel before they make it to a filling station. The survey, commissioned by roadside rescue organisation Green Flag, showed a 40% increase in fuel-related callouts in the second half of January, which coincided with fuel price rises.
Against the backdrop of a tough economic climate, increases in the price of fuel are painful, but there are much better ways to manage and reduce this cost than running perilously low of fuel and risking the need to call out your breakdown service.
Within an area, significant savings can be made by consistently filling up at the cheapest fuel sites. The price differential between the most expensive and the cheapest fuel forecourt at any given time can be several pence per litre based on the location of the site and the brand that owns it. A knowledge of the current price of fuel will allow you to assess if a forecourt is expensive or not.
For businesses that use fuel cards, this will only be possible by selecting a supplier that can offer a wide network of sites where the card can be used. Therefore, the size of the network should be a key consideration within a fuel card policy.
While being prudent at filling up will make a difference, journey planning is something that every driver should do before they set off. Cost savings can be made by considering the quickest and cheapest route to take, when to travel to avoid congestion and whether anyone else is taking the journey at the same time making car share a viable option.
The way that you drive also affects how much fuel you use and by driving less aggressively, so accelerating and braking in a smooth manner, drivers have the potential to save between 10 and 15% of fuel consumption, translating into savings at the pump. Although increasing prices are never desirable, they do encourage these good driving habits.
The survey revealed that more than half of drivers surveyed say that paying more money for the same amount of fuel has had the greatest impact on their driving habits. As a result of the recent fuel price rises, nearly half have tried to drive more economically.
Times are tough, and fuel is a major monthly expense for many of us, but by planning journeys and driving efficiently, rather than avoiding refuelling, drivers go some way towards influencing and lessening the pain.
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