F&I Management & Training

Motorists are quite literally slowing down because of the escalating cost of fuel according to a new survey by Motorpoint.

Some 69% of people quizzed by the car supermarket giant said their driving habits had changed radically since fuel topped an average of £1.20 a litre for unleaded petrol. Only 31% had not altered their behaviour. Over 1,500 people took part in the poll on the company's website - www.motorpoint.co.uk.

The oil giants have been criticised in recent days for failing to pass on a 2p fall in the wholesale cost of fuel although the likes of Asda are expected to cut forecourt prices shortly. Filling a car now costs £25 more a month than it did at the start of 2010.

Says David Shelton, Managing Director of Motorpoint: "We would urge the new Government not to raise Fuel Duty in its forthcoming Emergency Budget. Although it has been treated as a soft-target by the previous regime, any increases are only likely to exasperate the situation further for motorists already struggling under the weight of record fuel prices."