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Fuel costs 'scupper weekend motoring breaks'

22/05/08

The high cost of fuel is putting paid to cheap motoring breaks for car insurance customers, according to an industry expert.

Research from the IAM has shown that the fuel cost of an average family trip of 1,000 miles has risen by 50 per cent since 2003.

The fuel increases have even eliminated the advantage of owning a car with a more efficient engine.

A 1,000 mile trip in a new diesel Ford Focus in 2003 would cost £79.58, while the same trip in a new diesel Focus today will cost £120.57.

Neil Greig, trust director of the Institute of Advanced Motoring (IAM), has said that the spring bank holiday weekend has traditionally been a time when car insurance customers can take a cheap family break.

However, he warns that the cost of fuel could ruin motorists' chances of driving away for a weekend break.

He said: "Fuel costs, not the weather, are most likely to ruin the traditional motoring bank holiday that was once a cheap spring break for the family. And record fuel prices, especially for drivers of diesels, have wiped out the promised financial benefits of driving a new fuel-efficient car."

Mr Greig advises that there a number of ways drivers can improve their vehicles' fuel consumption.

He suggests that motorists should slow down as driving at 80 miles per hour uses up to 15 per cent more fuel than driving at 70 miles per hour.

Drivers should also remove roof racks and refrain from using the air conditioning.

Meanwhile, the Press Association has reported that motoring organisations expect around 18 million cars to take to the roads this weekend.

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