Fuel hikes 'spark travel changes',By Tom Warren BBC News



Record fuel prices are forcing drivers to think long and hard over how to cut their travelling bills.

For many, without access to regular public transport, the car is their only option.

A recent study, commissioned by What Car? magazine, has suggested drivers could save up to £500 a year by driving more slowly and burning less fuel.

But with the average price of petrol now at £1.17 a litre and diesel at £1.30 - around 20% higher than a year ago - some are turning to more drastic measures.

Independently owned garages have seen a dramatic rise in the number of "drive-offs", according to the Federation of Petrol Suppliers.


The cost of fuel is making people think about their journey habits, we can't really account for a big take-up in season tickets in any other way

Huw Lewis, Metro rail network spokesman

Mark Bradshaw, spokesman for the forecourt division, said over the last 12 months there had been a 20% increase in incidents of motorists leaving without paying.

The organisation is a lobbying group which represents 6,300 filling stations across the UK.

"With the price as it is, it's not surprising," Mr Bradshaw told BBC News.

"The biggest problem for our members, which are the independents, is that they (thieves) are going to go for the smaller garages and the isolated ones which don't have the level of security of the bigger places like the supermarkets."
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk

13/06/2008



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