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Increased cost of running a car isolates rural motorists9 July 2011by Donald MacKenzie In the RAC's annual survey of over 1000 motorists, a third of rural drivers have said that they will have to give up visiting their family if motoring costs continue to soar. Those living in the country are almost twice as dependent on their cars (compared to city dwellers) for visiting their families. Indeed, as would be expected, rural dwellers are more dependent on their cars for most activities as the below figures from the RAC survey show.  While 86% of rural residents said that it would be very difficult to reduce their car use, many had begun to reduce the frequency of short runs while almost a third would give up car-dependent socialising completely. Grouping urban and rural motorists together, the RAC found that there were many areas in which motorists had given up, or would give up car use if motoring costs continued to rise (see box below). Other recent surveys (including from the AA, Sainsbury's and Admiral) have demonstrated that the majority of motorists have modified their lifestyle choices and/or car use in view of the soaring cost of motoring, especially the cost of fuel and car insurance. This RAC study shows that escape from the country can no longer be taken for granted for many, with, clearly, a significant erosion of their quality of life if they are needing to cut back on socialising and visits to family.  As
we have reviewed in previous articles in our news and blog sections, motorists
are looking to the Government to do more to help them to be able to
afford to continue to run their cars. Indeed, the RAC found that over
three-quarters of motorists think that the Government continues to see motorists
as a convenient cash cow.There
is evidence to support the latter view, given that the UK has the
greatest fuel tax of any EU country and these tax receipts have long
been used to pay for public spending well in excess of the budget set
aside for the development and maintenance of the transport
infrastructure.
As motoring costs escalate further, hauliers and other fuel users may decide that direct action is called for if the Government does not do more to help them. There is no doubt that when people's quality of life begins to be eroded by perceived inaction by Government, people become angry and act to rectify the position as best they can. While we would not advocate any disruptive behaviours, perhaps people that do not normally get involved in political processes except via the ballot box, should consider writing to their MP to let them know how excessively costly fuel is negatively affecting them. Any constituency MPs getting numerous letters of this type would, in most cases, be willing to act so as to increase the likelihood of more significant Government intervention to assist motorists. |
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