Motorists aim to drive less to cut costs

Petrol sales slumped in the first nine months of 2011 and look set to fall further this year, the AA said.

Sales of petrol at the pumps totalled 13.9 billion litres in the period January-September 2011, against 14.9 billion litres in January-September 2010 and 16.3 billion in the pre-recession period of January to September 2008.

According to an AA/Populus survey, nearly 40 per cent of those questioned said they would either drive more economically or drive less often in 2012.

The AA said it was drivers from lower socio-economic groups that intended to be economical with petrol.

AA public affairs head Paul Watters said: “Drivers are clearly being forced into cutting their motoring by the high price of fuel and, for many, this will impose difficult constraints on their lives.”