A survey compiled by the AA from over 21,000 motorists has revealed that the majority of drivers are making a conscious effort to increase their kilometres/Euros ratio in a bid to avoid excessive spending on fuel.
Precisely 81 percent of the drivers polled claim to be driving in an economical manner, while 47 percent of motorists will take the blunt route of driving less in order to save money, due to constantly rising fuel prices. The poll revealed that a massive 83 percent of drivers are now shopping around for the best fuel prices.
Saving a few Euros here and there can certainly add up in the long term. The AA calculates that a driver doing 12,000 miles per year and getting 30mpg (9.4 litres/100km) on average will use 150 litres of fuel per month. The relentless rise in fuel costs now means an approximate monthly fuel cost of €220. A whopping €0.19 increase in excise and carbon tax alone has been applied to Irish fuel prices since 2008.
Just 13 percent of respondents to the survey said that they buy their fuel in units of litres rather than in Euros, a practice highly recommended by the AA due to its more accurate value judgement.
On a positive note for drivers' wallets, 83 percent said they make sure to accelerate slowly and smoothly when moving off from rest, as the AA reminds us that a harsher driving style will burn fuel more quickly.
Other figures concluded from the poll revealed that 79 percent of respondents ensured their tyre pressure was correct, while 83 percent of men and only 79 percent of women said they regularly employ "fuel efficient" driving techniques.