|
Now is not a good time for UK motorists - the average price of unleaded has hit £5 a gallon, the UK has had a month of record-breaking prices, and the difference between the cost of petrol and diesel is at its highest ever. In an attempt to highlight the spiralling cost of motoring PetrolPrices.com is supporting the Telegraph's campaign for a 'Fairer Deal for Drivers'.
Figures from PetrolPrices.com show that the UK has had unprecedented rises in the cost of fuel – we have now had over 5 weeks of record-breaking prices where almost every day has broken the record of the day before.
The national average price of unleaded has risen 5.9p in the last 5 weeks, from 107.8p to 113.7p. Diesel has risen an eye watering 9.2p per litre in the same period, from 116.8p to 126.0p.
This means that the average unleaded car now costs £2.95 more to fill up, at £56.85 a tank compared to £53.90 last month. Diesel drivers are now paying an extra £4.60 per tank, up from £58.40 last month to £63.00 today.
Parts of the UK are now hitting 124.9p for unleaded and 137.0p for diesel, whilst the cheapest fuel available has risen again – 111.9p for unleaded and 118.9p for diesel.
Since the beginning of the year unleaded has jumped 10.7p per litre from 103.0p, and diesel was 107.9p, making the rise an alarming 18.1p per litre. That equates to a rise of 10% and 17% respectively.
As a result of the rises PetrolPrices.com estimates that the government is earning an extra £1.2m per day in duty and VAT compared to this time last month.
The national average for unleaded smashed through the £5 a gallon barrier earlier this month, and the latest figures show that 96% of stations across the UK are now selling at or above this price (109.9p per litre).
On top of increasing fuel prices there has been a 50% increase in the amount of car-related tax in the last 10 years, taking the total to an average of £1800 a year in fuel duty, car tax, VAT on fuel and other levies.
The campaign, 'Fair Deal for Drivers' aims to pressure the government into reducing the cost of driving by scrapping the 2p duty rise planned for October, and to abandon plans to increase vehicle excise duty next year for owners of cars registered before 2006. The campaign also urges the government to consider other measures to help drivers during this period of high fuel prices.
You can sign the petition here:
The petition is backed by the AA, the RAC, the Conservative Party and dozens of Labour MP's. Past petitions and protests have failed due to a lack of organisation and awareness, but with the cost of fuel currently rocketing and the government on the back foot, now seems like the ideal time to push for action. This petition, with the support of an influential newspaper, respected motoring groups, MP's and PetrolPrices.com members, has the power to force Gordon Brown to rethink plans to raise motoring taxes.
|
