Rising petrol and diesel prices are 'taking a toll' on drivers with many ditching cars
Petrol and diesel costs are affecting road users across the UK with many deciding to cut back on their car use as a direct impact.
Higher petrol and diesel fuel prices are forcing some road users to give up driving, according to new analysis from motoring experts.
The latest analysis from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) revealed motorists were being “ripped off” by pump prices.
The CMA found supermarkets' profit margins had doubled since 2019 with increased retail prices costing road users a whopping £1.6bilion last year.
However, experts at WeBuyAnyCar warned increased costs were backfiring with many now questioning whether to get behind the wheel at all.
A recent survey from the group found a whopping 40 percent of road users were making the conscious decision to make fewer journeys.
Richard Evans, head of technical services at webuyanycar explained: “Rising motoring costs are unsurprisingly taking a toll, as our research revealed 4 in 10 drivers trying to drive less as a result of expensive fuel.”
Previous research from Churchill Expert found that 59 percent of young drivers between 18 and 34 are considering flexible car ownership.
The CMA warned that the lack of competition in the fuel sector was now “failing consumers”.
The CMA first started looking into fuel prices last year and recommended a fuel finder scheme to help divers find the cheapest precise.
This would “make prices available to motorists across the UK in real time” through maps and sat-nav devices.
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The CMA revealed the concept could save drivers an eye-watering £4.50 every time road users filled up their tanks.
Breakdown experts and car insurance specialists at the RAC claimed it was “nothing short of outrageous” that motorists were being forced to pay more.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams added that a price monitoring scheme would “take decisive action” on retailers for the good of consumers.
They commented: “This, the third report from the CMA, contains many findings that we feared.
“To see that drivers have paid £1.6bn more than they should have last year is nothing short of outrageous, especially when so many are dependent on their vehicles.
“Drivers have every right to feel ripped off, especially knowing there is virtually no market competition between retailers.
“The report is, once again, confirmation of what we have known and been campaigning against for many years.
“Our analysis has long shown that even accounting for retailers’ increased operating costs, margins on fuel are at extremely questionable levels.”
