Petrol prices in the UK are hitting eye-watering levels and further adding to the cost of living. But there is a rule in the UK as part of the Highway Code that can save drivers up to £150 on petrol bills.
Fuel prices have been soaring along with inflation and energy bills in recent months and Russia's invasion of Ukraine is also having a wide-scale impact on costs. But a simple task of switching off your engine while sitting in a queue could save drivers loads off their petrol.
Experts say turning your engine off, not just the ignition, when stationary can save money and the Highway Code even advises it. Motorists will also be doing less damage to the environment by using the simple method.
The advice comes as drivers continue to be clobbered by record fuel prices as petrol reaches an average of £1.65 per litre. MotorEasy founder and CEO Duncan McClure Fisher said: “One thing many people do that is entirely unnecessary is to leave their engine idling.
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"This can be done first thing in the morning to ‘warm it up’ or when stuck in traffic. Even dropping off something at a friend’s house can see people leave the motor running instead of turning off the ignition.
“While this might seem very innocent, research has shown an idling engine can burn through three to four pence of fuel a minute. If you are doing 10 minutes of warming up, five days a week, and spending another 30 minutes per week stuck in traffic – that adds up to a very handy £166 a year that’s being wasted.”
Drivers continue to be hit by record fuel prices as petrol reaches an average of £1.65 per litre. Figures from data firm Experian Catalist show the average cost of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts has increased by 16p in the past month.
That has made the cost of filling a typical 55-litre family car nearly £9 more expensive. The average cost of diesel on Tuesday, March 15 was £1.76 per litre, up 24p in just one month.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said drivers “badly need a break from these relentless daily rises”. Oil prices surged immediately after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but declined last week, leading to a cut in wholesale costs.
Mr Williams expressed hope that retailers will “soon start to pass on recent reductions in the price of wholesale fuel”, but warned they are “extremely conscious of protecting themselves from any more rises that could suddenly materialise”.
He added: “With the Spring Statement just a week away, drivers will be looking to the Chancellor to end their misery by cutting duty or VAT. “One thing’s for sure: simply reiterating that fuel duty has been frozen at 58p a litre simply isn’t going to cut it.”
