Petrol prices push drivers to run on empty

But now more drivers are pushing their petrol tanks to the limit, with almost one in four admitting they regularly keep driving with the fuel gauge on or past the emergency mark.

Motorists say they are willing to gamble that they can arrive at their destination before their tank runs dry.

And an increasing number of breakdowns are taking place on motorways as drivers reject expensive service station forecourts and hope to reach somewhere cheaper.

Separately, new figures from the AA show a 6 per cent rise in the number of motorists running out of fuel over the past 12 months – a weekly average of 446 in 2011, against 422 last year.

"We want drivers to be aware of what seems to be a growing problem and to remind them that keeping cars properly serviced and fuelled is essential," said Mark Dolphin, a motoring expert at Halfords, which carried out the research.

"We realise that money is tight, but it is a false economy to run on empty or near-empty if you are then going to end up stranded."

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Halfords said it had experienced a 56 per cent rise in the sale of fuel cans against six months ago, suggesting more people are preparing themselves for a potential breakdown due to a lack of fuel – and a hike on foot to the nearest garage.

The retailer's survey also revealed that 30 is still the average spend at the petrol pumps, despite the fact that fuel prices have increased by 16 per cent since last year.

Experts said that in real terms, drivers are putting less fuel in their tanks, but still seem to expect their vehicle to travel the same distance. Mr Dolphen said: "It is a basic motoring precaution to check you have enough fuel in the tank to comfortably reach your destination"

Transport chiefs have been using the electronic warning signs above motorway lanes to remind motorists of the serious risks of running out of fuel.

A separate report by the Highways Agency revealed that almost 16,000 drivers a year run out of fuel on the motorway – about 43 a day.

The average petrol price in the UK currently stands at 136.18p for a litre of unleaded, while the cheapest fuel available across the whole country is 130.9p.

Some unlucky motorists have to pay as much as 149.9p for their petrol. The higher prices tend to be charged in motorway service stations or in remote areas.

The AA said it attends 20,000 vehicles which have run out of fuel every year. Spokesman Gavin Hill-Smith said: "It is definitely a trend we have seen over the last few years."

But he said the closure of many independent petrol stations, particularly in rural areas, had compounded the problem, leaving drivers without easy access to somewhere to fill up.

"Petrol retailing does not actually operate on very large margins and the independents are finding it hard to compete," he said. "In some areas, such as the north of Scotland, petrol stations are actually becoming few and far between.

"In addition, people forget that spending 40 on fuel does not mean they can get as far as they would have done on 40 even a year ago.

"We would advise people not to risk it," Mr Hill-Smith said. With so many rural areas in Scotland, you could end up being stranded far from help and potentially putting yourself and other road users in danger."